WWII by entities: Persons, Places and Events

Using entities to tell the stories of WWII in the Netherlands
In this meetup we discuss how Netwerk Oorlogsbronnen is using their Knowledge Graph. We discuss how their website is growing from a traditional collection portal into a rich user experience with multiple perspectives on the persons, places and events in WWII.

When [Oorlogsbronnen.nl](https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/) was launched in 2014 it was a traditional portal that brought together collections from various organizations. On this portal users could search for collection objects, such as photographs and archives. While in the years that followed many more collections were added to Oorlogsbronnen, the focus of the website started to shift beyond collection objects. Users of Oorlogsbronnen are often interested in information about entities such as persons, places and events.

By now, Oorlogsbronnen maintains a rich Knowledge Graph with information about all kinds of entities. Oorlogsbronnen together with DOOR and Spinque are continuously exploring how to use this wealth of knowledge for interesting user experiences. For example, the website now offers statistical information about the persons from a certain place. For people it shows timelines composed of events and from these events a user can pivot to see the other people involved. As a result users discover when a person was transported but also who the other people were on this same transport.

Design thinking plays a crucial role in the process of creating effective user experiences over the Knowledge Graph. It allows the interdisciplinary team to effectively combine their expertise on knowledge and data modeling, information retrieval and user interface and interaction design.

In this meetup Lizzy Jongma (ICT Project Lead @[Oorlogsbronnen.nl](https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/)), Jos Bezemer (Interaction Designer @DOOR) and Michiel Hildebrand (Knowledge Scientist @Spinque) will each provide from their own perspective on how a Knowledge Graph is used to tell the stories of WWII in the Netherlands.

Agenda

• 15:55 CET - 16:00 CET : gathering and welcome
• 16:00 CET - 16:45 CET : presentation by Lizzy Jongma (Oorlogsbronnen), Jos Bezemer (DOOR) and Michiel Hildebrand (Spinque) on the use of the Oorlogsbronnen Knowledge Graph in the design of the new oorlogsbronnen.nl.
• 16:45 CET - 17:00 CET : asking and answering questions, sharing experiences, discussing challenges
• 17:00 CET - 17:30 CET : online drinks

Oorlogsbronnen
[Oorlogsbronnen.nl](https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/) is the starting point for anyone who wants to know more about WWII in the Netherlands. The history of the war is hidden in millions of original photos, objects, letters, administrations, diaries, posters, newspaper reports, film images, et cetera. These 'silent witnesses' come from the scattered collections of hundreds of archival institutions, museums, remembrance centers and libraries at home and abroad. [Oorlogsbronnen.nl](https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/) links the available war heritage of more than 250 organizations around persons, places and events. [Oorlogsbronnen.nl](https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/) thus forms a central online access to original sources, information and knowledge about WWII.