Dutch Cultuurfonds changes Name Following Controversy Over Prince Bernhard's Nazi Membership

"This name suits who we are now, with a focus on our content," said director Cathelijne Broers in a statement on X. 

The Cultuurfonds originated from the Prince Bernhard Fonds, with which the prince was associated from 1940 until his death in 2004. In 1999, the name was changed to Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. According to Cathelijne  Broers, the cultuurfonds is "the only fund in the Netherlands to which you can give money and apply for it across the full spectrum of culture and nature." 

The royal family has already embraced the new name. Shortly after the Cultuurfonds announced the name change, the Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst (Government Information Service - RVD) sent out a press release stating that Queen Máxima will present the Cultuurfonds Prize 2023 on November 20. The old name is no longer mentioned in the release. The RVD stated that the royal family "wholeheartedly supports the work of the Cultuurfonds." "Support, appreciation, and encouragement of talent, initiatives, and projects in the fields of culture and nature are of great importance," the RVD stated.

The CIDI, a prominent voice of the Jewish community in the Netherlands, considers the decision by the Cultuurfonds a "wise decision." "It is good to distance oneself from this loaded name. It is now crucial that a thorough investigation is conducted into the role of the prince during the Second World War.