Cultural cooperation Spain-Netherlands 2021-2024

In Spain, audiences have a broad interest in culture, ranging from more classical to present-day art. Promoting culture that is inviting and accessible offers an opportunity to reach different groups within the diverse Spanish society. The Netherlands is generally seen as innovative, creative and groundbreaking. The Dutch multidisciplinary and practical approach is appreciated. Spanish-Dutch collaborations take place in various disciplines and sectors, from music to heritage and from design to literature.

Examples of collaborations are diverse:

• Film: participation of Theo Jansen in Spanish documentary about the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid on the occasion of their 250th anniversary (2021); six productions by a.o. Ashgan El-Hamus and René Nuijens screened at short film festival Mecal Pro in Barcelona (2022); focal country at the Festival de Cine por Mujeres in Madrid with six contributions of: Heddy Honigmann, Halina Reijn, Urszula Antoniak and two other female directors (2022); the films A piece of my heart by Dana Nechushtan and White Berry by Sia Hermanides at the Festival de Cine por Mujeres in Madrid (2023).
• Literature: participation of authors Manon Uphoff Caer es como volar (Falling is like Flying) and Eva Meijer Animales Habladores (Animal Language) at HAY festival Segovia (2022); book presentation of Jente Posthuma of En lo que preferiria no pensar (What I’d Rather not Think About) in Barcelona and Madrid (2023); book presentation of Las Bestias (The Animals) by Gijs Wilbrink in Madrid (2024); Book presentation of Declaración de Dependencia (Declaration of Dependence) by Rebekka de Wit (2024).
• Design: Guest lectures by Dries van Wagenberg (What if … Lab of the Dutch Design Foundation) at Transferencias Design in Malaga and at the Design Academy EASD Valencia; Workshop and talk by circular hair designer Zsofia Kollar at FAD Barcelona; Dutch Fashion students participating in The Sustainable Challenge – Rethinking Gender in Fashion in Barcelona (2023), Exhibition Claudy Jongstra Pastoral Futures – Wool migrations in the Design Hub in Barcelona (2023); Piet Hein Eek and Irma Boom at Madrid Design Festival Pro (2024), Chris Kabel, Studio Verter, Alei Verspoor, Willem de Haan at urban desig festival Concentrico in Logroño.
• Architecture: Translation of Aldo van Eyck’s essay El niño, la Ciudad y el Artista (the Child, the City and the Artis); participation of landscape architect Adriaan Geuze of West 8 at HAY Festival Segovia (2023); Reinier de Graaf (OMA) at HAY Festival Sevilla (2024).  
• Photography: Participation of Ellen Kooi at the Madrid Gallery Weekend (2021). Mo Verlaan exhibition Book of Light at FotoNostrum Gallery in Barcelona; Erwin Olaf’s exhibition Un mundo que desvanece at Centro Niemeyer in Avilés (2023)
• Performing arts: Participation of Nina Aalders (Theaterfestival Boulevard) in the jury and Jordi Ribot Thunnissen (dance writer and content creator) as a workshop leader at the Choreography competition Certamen Coreográfico by Paso a 2 in Madrid (2022); ITA’s Who Killed My Father at Festival de Otoño Madrid (2023); Participation of Nienke Rooijakkers (DansBrabant) at Certamen Coreográfico by Paso a 2 in Madrid (2023); Dance company Club Guy & Roni at Danza Metropolitana festival (2024).
• Music: Concert by the Rembrandt Trio (jazz) at Café Berlin in Madrid (2022) and on tour in Valencia, Malaga and other cities (2023), Netherlands Focal Country at Jazz I AM in Barcelona (Showcases for professionals) with three showcases and a round table with Dutch representatives and jury (2023); Jazz quartet Ben van den Dungen in Club Matador Madrid (2023); Metropole Orkest at Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz; concert of pop singer Benny Sings in Barcelona (2023).

For the Netherlands, the cultural collaboration with Spain focuses on greater visibility and exchange. Sustainable cooperation that strengthens the ties with Spain and reveals common European roots is key. As a renewed focal country in Dutch international cultural policy, the Dutch embassy in Spain is focusing on expanding the network and establishing long term Spanish-Dutch cultural cooperation. Looking in particular for partners with an interest in exploring the possible solutions to the big problems of today. Circular solutions, regeneration of rural areas, renewable energy solutions, mobility solutions, and social design are just a few examples.

• Madrid: Centro Cultural Matadero Madrid, Casa Encendida, Centro Centro, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Central de Diseño, DIMAD (Designers Association Madrid), Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid (COAM), Fundación Carlos de Amberes, Festival de Cine por Mujeres (Filmfestival by Women), Paso a 2.
• Barcelona: El Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC), Fundación Arquia, Fostering Arts and Design (FAD), Barcelona Design Week.
• The rest of Spain: HAY Festival in Segovia (multidisciplinary), BIME Pro (music) in Bilbao, San Sebastian Film Festival, Tabakalera Cultural Centre in San Sebastián, Transferencias Design in Malaga.
• In the Netherlands: Instituto Cervantes, Nieuwe Instituut, See NL, Creative Industries Fund NL, Mondriaan Fund, Performing Arts Fund NL, Literature Fund NL, DutchCulture.

Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with Spain? Feel free to contact our Spain advisor Josine Backus with your questions for tailored advice.

• Go (back) to the main country page for Spain
• Webpage of the Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands in Spain for cultural cooperation (in Spanish)
• Follow the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Spain on social media
• Travel advice to Spain (in Dutch)