On Thursday, June 25, the annual Anton de Kom Lecture will take place at the Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam). This year’s lecture will be delivered by storyteller, musician and theatre maker Sahand Sahebdivani.

His lecture, titled Small Acts of Resistance and the Value of Laughter, explores themes of injustice, oppression, freedom and resilience through both personal family history and the art of storytelling.

Born in Tehran, Sahand Sahebdivani fled Iran with his parents at the age of three. His work draws inspiration from ancient stories as well as his family’s experiences of imprisonment, migration and resistance.

This year, the Anton de Kom Lecture introduces a new format. Following the lecture, Sahand Sahebdivani will be interviewed by Karel Smouter, editor-in-chief of the Dutch newspaper Trouw, based on a selection of images chosen by the speaker himself.

📅 Thursday, June 25, 2026
📍 Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam)

An evening of stories, reflection and fresh perspectives on the meaning of resistance – past and present.