"Doing" cultural geography/"being" a cultural geographer – reflections by an "accidental geographer" on practising cultural geography in the Netherlands

This paper comprises reflections by the author on developments in cultural geography in the Netherlands.In so doing, it briefly explores the historical context of geography in the Netherlands and considers reasons for what could be construed as a "lagging behind" in Dutch cultural geography (when compared to the UK).The paper then zooms 5 in on the local and personal context of the author at the University of Groningen, thus illustrating "a" Dutch cultural geography, impacted by research traditions and teaching contexts.Ways in which research here may materialise into interesting new developments in cultural geography in the Netherlands (and elsewhere) are proposed in conclusion.10 Zusammenfassung In diesem Artikel reflektiert die Autorin auf Entwicklungen in der Kulturgeografie in den Niederlanden.Der Artikel beschreibt kurz den historischen Kontext der Geografie in den Niederlanden und er örtert Gr ünde f ür ein m ögliches " zur ückbleiben", zumindest im Vergleich zum Vereinigten K önigreich.Folglich wird eingezoomt auf den lokalen und 15 pers önlichen Kontext der Autorin an der Universit ät von Groningen.Somit wird " eine" niederl ändische Kulturgeografie dargestellt, beeinflusst durch Forschungstraditionen und Lehre.Schliesslich werden m ögliche Wege zu interessanten neuen Entwicklingen in der Kulturgeografie in den Niederlanden (und woanders) vorgestellt. 1 Prelude 20My "being" a cultural geographer necessitated a (meandering) journey through different disciplines and countries.As a teenager, I discovered a passion for the (protection of the) environment.I volunteered as a "watcher" for the World Wildlife Funds (observing the occurrence and behavior of crane birds) and for the AGA Artenschutzgemeinschaft 166 SGD 6,