Jazz in the Netherlands: A Community, Industry, Curriculum, Ideology?

This paper presents the initial findings of It Takes a Village (For details, see report). a research project carried out in collaboration with the IMPRODECO research group at Utrecht University with the aim of mapping out the ecosystem for jazz and improvised music in the Netherlands and understanding the process of institutionalisation. Through an examination of existing studies of jazz in the Netherlands and interviews with different stakeholders (educators, policymakers, festival programmers), it reflects on how institutional dynamics—such as linguistic norms, financial barriers, and ideological hierarchies—have shaped the institutionalisation and development of jazz in the Netherlands. It explores the different definitions, uses and underlying ideologies of jazz - as a community, an economy, a marketing tool, a philosophy– and how these often-conflicting understandings inform curriculum development, curatorial practices and the further positioning of jazz and jazz musicians the Netherlands. While the ecosystem of Dutch jazz has made important strides in diversifying the jazz canon and incorporating transnational and diasporic perspectives in attempts to build and establish connections with communities, it remains challenged by its position within elite structures. This raises critical questions about accessibility, representation, musical quality, and – most importantly – the future of jazz in the Netherlands. It Takes a Village offers a comprehensive overview of insights that can serve as a shared foundation for discussions within the jazz community and a framework for aligning future research.