Beyond the end - Four futures for 2054
On Friday, 24 January, participants of the 9th Mixed Classroom course presented their reflections on our radical times in the form of an exhibition. What are we experiencing? What role does policy play in the felt loss of ‘grip’? What scenarios are conceivable? The exhibition Beyond the End - Four Futures for 2054 presented four different possible futures for 2054. What will life look like then? What consequences do those futures have for policy work and politics? And what were the defining moments that led us into that future?
This exhibition is about the question: what if? Here, you find four futures; four visions of what the Netherlands might be like in 2054. Taking 2018 as our starting point, Mixed Classroom participants drew out four different futures based on two axes, leading to four possible divergent futures:
All Together as Nature ('Low'-tech communitarian)
Since 2029, a lot has happened...
The inability of the Dutch government to address the damages of the year of hell led to increasing calls for self-sufficient communities. The government has devolved and decentralised. Caring for one another in smaller communities has taken many of its roles. The national government only has international relations; the EU is a shell of its former self. The welfare state has been almost abolished. A severe avian flu pandemic in 2035 resulted in massive protests against intensive bio-industry. Large-scale industrial farms are closed, and new, local forms of agriculture rise. Cooperatives and smaller communities take centre stage.
In our world...
Harmony with nature has become a central tenet of life in the Netherlands. Symbolised by the potato plant, the new order is about self-sufficiency, community, and equality. In a changed world, food has become key: a pillar of community and a moment for reflection. Time – time well spent – reorganises life; we take a lot of time for each other. When you look at this room, you will see big benches. Eating is communal, not limited to a set number of chairs; everybody should always have a place to eat. Yet, all should also play their parts. After all we’ve been through, who wouldn’t want to contribute? Here, everybody does their job— no one lazes around. It feels like team spirit: doing things together, not alone. After centuries of exploitation, finally, we use the earth in a respectful way — together!
Doe Normaal, Doe Bewust, Doe Nederlands ('High'-tech authoritarian)
Since 2029, a lot has happened...
Global food shortages and overwhelming climate crises have driven the people of the Netherlands to prioritize climate action and resource independence. Internationally, nativism and protectionism through technological and scientific innovation have become the norm. As subsidizing Dutch farmers and agricultural firms throughout the crisis proved unaffordable, the Dutch government went ‘all-in’ on new modes of food and water production: investments in lab-grown meat, hydroponics, and the development of nutritionally complete meal substitutes for the Dutch armed forces. As a result, the power of corporate R&D and financing increased further, leading to the gradual Corporation-State merger of the 2040s. The merger brought efficiency and security, with corporations stepping up to secure critical materials in the North-South War of 2042, eliminating wastefulness and making the country the most technologically advanced region in Europe.
In our world...
Efficiency and optimization are paramount. We can no longer accept the unbounded consumerist gluttony of the early 2000s. Thankfully, Dutch technological ingenuity has steered our society towards strength, sufficiency, and productivity. Housing, food, and transportation are no longer a problem. We now live in 1-minute cities: mini-Amsterdams made up of residential and office buildings meet all our needs, while powering AI data centres. Mental and physical diseases will soon be eradicated through gene editing and therapy. Forceful norms such as “gezellig” and “doe normaal” embrace normality, tradition and civic pride within communities glad to live safely and orderly on a chaotic planet.
Consensus in Control ('High'-tech communitarian)
Since 2029 a lot has happened...
Responding to the “time of excess and inequality,” the cooperative movement has redefined the Netherlands as a beacon of shared innovation and purpose. The nation has embraced a high-tech communitarian model that balances advanced technology with collective well-being and shared responsibility. Cooperatives now form the backbone of society, governing industries, healthcare, housing, and education. Citizens actively participate in decision-making using real-time digital voting devices, ensuring a low-hierarchy society where every voice matters. Through the strength of these cooperatives, the Netherlands thrives as a decentralized, sustainable nation where community workers and innovators are celebrated. Together, the nation overcomes challenges.
In our World ...
In our world, the bar remains a space for community to thrive. There is shared food and coop-brewed drinks. People exchange ideas, debate decisions, and create connections in the bar. The recycled outfits of people reflect the admiration for community heroes. Kindness and societal contributions are publicly celebrated. In the bar, conversations flow freely, but the responsibility to vote and shape society is ever-present. Digital devices everywhere ask people to contribute to complicated decisions. Consumption awareness is key; drinks are shared in moderation, and overeating is discouraged. Moderation embodies a collective respect for resources. It’s relaxation with purpose.
Je maintiendrai ('Low'-tech authoritarian)
Since 2029, a lot has happened...
Responding to the disastrous’ time of excess’, the ruling party Je Maintiendrai has steered the Nation toward a more orderly and sustainable way of life. Coming to power in response to climate disruptions, Je Maintiendrai encourages citizens to give up many 20th-century material comforts and to adapt to more authoritarian forms of governance. Under their leadership, the Netherlands has been able to stabilise. Drawing on the Netherlands Glorious Past, “Je maintiendrai” is the official motto of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and can be freely translated as “I will maintain.” In 1565, William of Orange maintained virtue, nobility, honour, faith, and the law. Almost 500 years later, the Netherlands persists through storms and famines as the state garnered its influence to guide the Nation to a new future.
In our world...
Our Nation focuses on simplicity, resilience, and communal values. Displays of wealth or luxury are stigmatised. A new cultural norm is established around “energy humility”. A typical household is modest: home lighting is minimal, and the government strictly regulates the maximum heating temperature indoors in winter. The Nation is a testament to how simplicity and restraint can pave the way for harmony between humanity and the natural world. The good life is a smaller life.
