International Heritage Cooperation: Matching Fund

Internationale Erfgoedsamenwerking: Matchingfonds

Funding for projects that contribute to the visibility of the history and heritage that connects the Kingdom of the Netherlands to other countries.

International Heritage Cooperation is part of the Netherlands’ international cultural policy. The Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs (BZ) and of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) have formulated this policy for the period 2025 – 2028 with a main focus on 10 partner countries (Australia, Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Ukraine and the United States) and 13 focus countries (Belgium, China, Germany, Egypt, France, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and South Korea).

The program has five implementing organisations: DutchCulture, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), the National Archives (NA), the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN), and the Dutch embassies and/or consulates-general in the respective partner and focus countries.

The Matching Fund is intended to support projects across all cultural disciplines (f.i. publications, exhibitions, films, documentaries, TV series, installations, theater performances, etc.) that contribute to the visibility of the history and heritage that connects the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the partner and focus countries. Because visibility is the central goal of the scheme, applications are expected to place a strong emphasis on reciprocal representation, multiperspectivity and historical awareness.

Mobility to or from

The Netherlands

The Caribbean part of the Kingdom (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten

Destination

Aruba

Australia

Belgium

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Brazil

China

Curaçao

Egypt

France

Germany

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Italy

Japan

Morocco

Netherlands

Poland

Russia

Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

Discipline(s)

Architecture

Visual Arts

Heritage

Audiovisual Media

Literature

Music

Design

Performing Arts

Journalism

Digital Culture

Multi-disciplinary

Who can apply

Organisations

Legal entities (f.i. heritage institutions or cultural organisations) established in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

For what

Project

Research

Travel

How much

Between €5,000 and €35,000 (up to 50% of the total project costs)

With a maximum of €7,500 for a publication;
With maximum of €10,000 for a peripheral program of a documentary or film project.

Requirements

The project contributes to the visibility of the past that connects the Kingdom of the Netherlands with one or more partner countries (Australia, Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Suriname, Sri Lanka, the United States, and South Africa) and/or focus countries (Belgium, China, Germany, Egypt, France, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and South Korea);
The applicant is a legal entity established in the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
At least one collaborating partner is from a focus or partner country;
The project must be completed by 1 September, 2028;
Only projects discussed during an advisory meeting with our Advisor International Heritage Cooperation or a Regional Advisor will be considered. This meeting can take place up to two weeks before the deadline.

When to apply

Before a specific deadline

Only projects discussed during an advisory meeting with grant advisor Anne-Maamke Boonstra, will be considered. This meeting can take place up to two weeks before the deadline.

Upcoming deadline(s)

12 Mar 2026