India

Read our COVID-19 Information for cooperation with India

India and the Netherlands
India and the Netherlands enjoy extensive relations, as highlighted during the state visit of HRH King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to India in 2019. Historic relations date back to over 400 years ago. The Netherlands has a strong academic tradition in studying Indian culture, language and civilisation, and economic and personal ties are intensive.

India is rapidly emerging as a global power, and is – at least until the COVID crisis erupted – one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with a population close to China’s and a rapidly growing and well-educated middle class. The Netherlands is home to a large community of Indian ancestry, the largest Indian diaspora in the EU.

Both India and the Netherlands boast a rich cultural life, and the cultural sectors of both countries could gain enormously from cultural partnerships. However, despite the potential and cooperation in cultural heritage, cultural exchanges have been limited. This is partly attributable to mutual unfamiliarity.

India as a new focal country
With India as one of the 23 focal countries in Dutch international cultural policy (2021-2024), it is the government’s ambition to promote more partnerships and exchanges in contemporary culture in various fields in the coming years, while continuing to build on the existing cooperation in the field of cultural heritage. The Dutch embassy in New Delhi in particular will play a supporting role in building up the network in India, matchmaking and identifying potential local partners.

Opportunities exist notably in the following sectors and/or fields: design (including fashion and textile design, handicraft and furniture design, urban planning and landscape design); performing arts; and heritage cooperation (including museum cooperation and intangible cultural heritage), as well as cinematography and literature. Read more…

Information & advice
Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with India? Feel free to contact our Focal Countries Desk with your questions. We can inform you about the latest developments in the country, relevant contacts and cultural venues.

Artists and organizations looking for Indian partners to collaborate with can fill in the Cultural Connect Partnership Request Form of the Dutch embassy for advice on potential partners in India. Cultural activities jointly undertaken by Dutch and Indian partners which meet the criteria may be eligible for support.

Further reading

• Find out more about cultural exchange with India-Netherlands 2021-2024
• COVID-19 Information for cooperation with India
• Webpage of the Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands in India