About the DutchCulture Database

DutchCulture's Cultural Database tracks the international cultural activities and projects of citizens of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and international makers who are based in the Kingdom. We track makers across 13 different disciplines (including music, performing arts, film, visual arts, and design). The database provides an overview of the scope, scale and characteristics of the Dutch International cultural presence. This helps us understand the cultural impact of the Netherlands in other countries. The database has more than 10 years of data, and our online data goes back to 2017. On the database homepage, you can explore the data:

Every year we create a general overview of the Dutch cultural presence abroad, the so-called DutchCulture Mappings (see below). These overviews include a list of the top fifty countries, an overview of sectors and active makers, as well as insight into trends. We also make a factsheet for each of the focal countries in the Dutch International Cultural Policy. On request, we also make specific overviews, for example per country or sector. We also use the database for research and explorations.

The MyDC Portal allows Dutch or Netherlands-based makers to add and edit their own pages and international activities directly in our database. All activities submitted through the portal are checked by us to ensure accuracy before being addeed.

Alternatively, you can fill in the database form and email it to us and we will add your information for you

We strive to make the DutchCulture Database as comprehensive as possible and collect information from as many sources as we can. However, we recognise that we are not able to capture every international cultural event and our database is not exhaustive. The number of events varies significantly per discipline. This is in large part due to the nature of different disciplines (for example, a 3-month exhibition at a museum and a small concert in a pub both count as one event). We encourage you to look at events per discipline rather than comparing disciplines. We are always looking to make our database more comprehensive; if you have information on international cultural activities or would like more information about the database don't hesitate to get in touch with Erin Chang, our Database Officer.

How is data collected?

The database contains activities added by artists, creative professionals, and organisations. It also includes data we receive from our partners, and from our own research. Activities from 2017 onwards may be added.

1. Artists, creative professionals, and organisations may add activities to their page by creating an MyDC account.

2. We receive data regularly from most of the focal country embassies/consulates.

3. We receive data from the governmental cultural funds and the four organisations that execute the international cultural policy to inform us of relevant projects they are supporting abroad.

4. Once a year, DutchCulture sends a call for information to all cultural organisations in our network and to the Dutch embassies/consulates outside of the cultural policy focus countries.

5. Once a year, DutchCulture sends a call for information to the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK).

6. DutchCulture is subscribed to several newsletters and receives notifications of international activities which we add to the database.

7. DutchCulture is continually researching new projects, starting with the organisations that have already been added to the database before and are marked as the most frequent travellers of the past three years.

Who can be included as a maker in the Cultural Database?

Makers include artists, cultural professionals, and cultural organisations. Makers are included if they:

• work and reside in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, regardless of the nationality of origin.
• have Dutch nationality but are (temporarily) residing abroad.

What kind of activities are included in the database?

• The activity must fit one or more of the main disciplines (see list below)
• The activity must fit into one of the event types that we include (see list below).
• The activity must have a clear start and an end date.
• The activity must be attributable to a Dutch or Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands based maker.
• The activity must take place outside of the Netherlands
• There must be a clear international venue.

Which Disciplines are included in the database?

• Architecture
  • Architecture: Landscape Architecture
  • Architecture: UrbanPlanning
  • Architecture: Buildings & Structures
• Art & Science
• Audiovisual Media
  • Audiovisual Media: Animation
  • Audiovisual Media: Documentary
  • Audiovisual Media: Feature Film
  • Audiovisual Media: Short Film
  • Audiovisual Media: Podcast
  • Audiovisual Media: Television
• Design
  • Design: Conceptual Design
  • Design: Environmental Design
  • Design: Exhibition & Interior Design
  • Design: Fashion & Textile
  • Design: Food Design
  • Design: Graphic Design
  • Design: Jewellery
  • Design: Product & Industrial Design
• Digital Culture
  • Digital Culture: Artificial Intelligence
  • Digital Culture: Social Media
  • Digital Culture: Technology
  • Digital Culture: Video Games
  • Digital Culture: Virtual & Augmented Reality
• Education
• Heritage
  • Heritage: Archaeology
  • Heritage: Archives
  • Heritage: Cultural Sites & Landscapes & Environment
  • Heritage: Culture & Language & Traditions
  • Heritage: Historical Narratives
  • Heritage: Objects & Collections
  • Heritage: Preservation & Restoration
• Journalism
• Literature
  • Literature: Fiction
  • Literature: Graphic & Visual Literature
  • Literature: Non-Fiction
  • Literature: Poetry
  • Literature: Youth Literature
• Music
  • Music: Classical Music
  • Music: Contemporary & Experimental Music
  • Music: Electronic Music
  • Music: Folk Music
  • Music: Hip Hop & Pop & R&B
  • Music: Jazz & Improvised Music
  • Music: Rock & Indie & Metal
  • Music: Soul & Funk & Blues
• Performing Arts
  • Performing Arts: Circus & Outdoor Arts
  • Performing Arts: Comedy
  • Performing Arts: Dance
  • Performing Arts: Object and Puppet Theatre
  • Performing Arts: Opera & Music Theatre
  • Performing Arts: Spoken Word
  • Performing Arts: Theatre
  • Performing Arts: Youth Theatre
• Sustainability
• Visual Arts
  • Visual Arts: Curating
  • Visual Arts: Drawing & Painting
  • Visual Arts: Graphic & Illustration
  • Visual Arts: Installation & Sculpture
  • Visual Arts: Media & Digital Art
  • Visual Arts: Murals & Public Art Installations
  • Visual Arts: Performance Art
  • Visual Arts: Photography
  • Visual Arts: Research & Theory
  • Visual Arts: Sound Art
  • Visual Arts: Textiles & Ceramics & Crafts

What type of events can be added to the database?

• Archiving
• Artist-in-Residence
• Award
• Broadcast
• Competition
• Concert
• Conference
• Curation
• Debate
• Fair
• Festival
• Group Exhibition
• Installation
• Lecture
• Loan
• Manifestation
• Master class
• Meeting
• Opening
• Other
• Panel Discussion
• Performance - Art
• Performance - Stage
• Presentation
• Product Launch
• Publication
• Research
• Restoration
• Screening
• Solo Exhibition
• Talk
• Technical assistance
• Tour
• Training
• Translation
• Workshop

Observations concerning the data

Some disciplines are an easy fit for the structure of the database, like music and other performing arts, fine arts and film. This accounts for the high number of concerts, performances, solo or group exhibitions and screenings in the database. Some disciplines are harder to define, for example ongoing exchange programs or trajectories in the creative industry (design, games, architecture).

The number of activities in the cultural database varies significantly per discipline. This is in large part due to the nature of different disciplines (for example, a 3-month exhibition at a museum and a small concert in a pub both count as one event). We encourage you to look at events per discipline rather than comparing disciplines.

Observations concerning the information sources

The amount of data per discipline depends highly on the source of information. For example: The Eye Film Institute collects all Dutch films, including minor co-productions at foreign festivals, but there are no go-to sources to collect Dutch exhibitions abroad or buildings designed by Dutch architects. We are dependent on individually provided information and our own research, which is naturally limited by time.

Which principles do not apply to the database?

Quality: DutchCulture does not rate the status of the cultural organisations, artists or foreign venues.

Completeness: While we aim to be as complete as possible, we do not guarantee that all activities have complete information listed.

Commercial activities: DutchCulture does not collect information on commercial activities, such as product lines sold internationally or commercial film screenings.

Publicity & marketing activities: The database does not include publicity or marketing activities around cultural activities, such as reviews or publicity interviews.