On 17 March 2025 the International Institute of Social Studies will host this event looking inside the Dutch greenhouse and an interogation of actual working and living conditions of (migrant) farmworkers in Dutch agriculture.
- Date
- Monday 17 Mar 2025, 17:30 - 19:30
- Type
- General
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Butterfly Bar
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
Maybe you have seen headlines with big claims such as:
'Dutch greenhouses have revolutionized modern farming'
'Cutting-edge tech made this tiny country a major exporter of food'
'This tiny country feeds the world'
Indeed, in mainstream discourse, we hear a lot about the ‘efficiency’ and ‘cutting-edge technology’ of Dutch agriculture, but much less about the actual people working inside Dutch greenhouses and horticulture fields.
We might see the country of origin stamp of ‘Land van oosprong: Nederland’ on the plastic boxes of vegetables at Albert Heijn or Jumbo, but might not have any idea whose hands actually planted, harvested, cleaned, transported and packaged that produce, and under which conditions this was done.
This panel is an invitation to look inside the Dutch greenhouse and interrogate the actual working and living conditions of (migrant) farmworkers in Dutch agriculture. It also serves as an invitation to think about our possible stances of understanding and engagement as multi-cultural communities based in the Netherlands, many of us living not far from Westland, where many of these greenhouses are located.
The panellists will look to inspiring examples of struggles for better wages and working conditions of migrant farmworkers in other countries, and to concrete opportunities for solidarity here in the Netherlands.
Speakers
The interactive panel will feature:
- Karin Astrid Siegmann, Associate professor at the International Institute of Social Studies
- Oane Visser, Associate professor at the International Institute of Social Studies
- Stijn Kluck, Researcher at Wageningen University and organizer of the Migration and Wage labour group of the Agroecology Network
- Maciej Karwowski, Labour union member at FNV and former employee in the temporary agricultural work sector (TBC)
- Marita Canedo and Will Lambek, Milk with Dignity Program Coordinator for Migrant Justice
Moderated by: Fatema Baheranwala and Daniela Calmon, PhD researchers at the International Institute of Social Studies
The discussion aims to be informal and participatory with participants enjoying snacks and drinks whilst listening and engaging.
Programme
17:30 - Arrival and meeting over snacks/drinks
18:00 -Start of panel
19:15 - End of panel
19:15 - Conversation continues over drinks at Butterfly bar