In the Netherlands, international cultural policy is a joint responsibility of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and Education, Culture and Science. At the end of last year, the three Ministers presented their framework for international cultural policy for the period 2021-2024. An English version of the policy letter was made available recently and can be found here.
Objectives of the Dutch international cultural policy include a strong position of the national cultural sector abroad through visibility, exchanges and long-term partnerships, and the use of Dutch cultural expressions to support bilateral relationships. One of the highlighted priorities is heritage, as this domain “contributes to mutual understanding, especially where there is a shared history”. Partnerships with countries that have a shared, sometimes colonial, past with the Netherlands, continue to be of great importance.
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