21st Century Access to Culture, Learning & Research
The programme Knowledge Rights 21 (KR21) is focused on bringing about changes in
legislation and practice across Europe that will strengthen the right of all to knowledge. It is
built on a conviction that knowledge is essential for education, innovation and cultural
participation, and that everyone should have the possibility - in particular through libraries,
archives and digitally - to access and use it.
The Netherlands has not one, but two, copyright Acts. One that is applicable to the European Netherlands and is compliant with EU law and a second act that is applicable solely to the Caribbean Netherlands, the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius (‘Statia’), and Saba (known collectively as the BES). KR21 has recommended to the Dutch government to abolish the Act that is specific to this small region of the country and to apply the European Netherlands’ Act to the BES, as the current situation is limiting access to information, knowledge and culture for the inhabitants of this part of the Netherlands. …
