Vol. 39 No. 1 (2024): Aanzet jaargang 39-1

Dear reader,

Before you lies the first edition of the 39th volume of the Historical Journal Aanzet. This edition symbolizes the beginning of a largely new editorial team, with no less than seven new members. There have also been many changes within the editorial team.  In addition, Aanzet now also has a podcast: Studio '82. This podcast has its own editorial team, consisting of four producers. The podcast can be listened to on Spotify.

I hope that this fresh breeze of change is also evident in this edition that you now have before you. In the first article of this edition, Michelle Moonen shows the dynamic interaction between invented traditions, imagined communities, and the commemoration of World War II at the Utrecht student association U.V.S.V. In the second article, Emma Tiggelaar examines the focus in Dutch policy over the past thirty years on individualization, which has allowed drug criminals to take on certain government tasks. According to Emma, a shadow state has developed. In the final article, Danthe Franken takes a look at Canada's handling of the trauma of the Indian residential school system.

As per usual, the articles are interspersed with our rubrics. In this edition of ''Onder een historische loep'' Marissa van de Kreke examines the historical accuracy of the TV series World on Fire. Next, Nils Bos analyzes the interpretation of travel to Egypt in Dutch newspapers between 1860 and 1935, the evolution this interpretation underwent, and the reasons behind it in ''Uit het archief van''. For ''Hoe geschiedenis jij?'' Fabienne van Wijngaarden interviewed retired journalist Ton Crijnen about his impressive career. Floor Schuurmans explores the tradition of keeping friendship books, rooted in the sixteenth century album amicorum, in this edition’s ''Beeldspraak''. In ''De passie van..'' Hanne Meulenbeld discusses with Dr. Regina Pien van der Hoeven her passion for precision. Finally, Niels Verheul reviews the book De Perzen: Een nieuwe geschiedenis van de eerste supermacht ter wereld.

Enjoy your reading!
On behalf of the editorial board,

Fabienne van Wijngaarden Editor-in-chief