60 Years of Living Together and Cultural Collaboration: The Netherlands and Türkiye

On 19 August 1964 in The Hague, a historic agreement was signed between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Türkiye, concerning the migration, recruitment, and employment of Turkish workers in the Netherlands. Over the past 60 years, what began as a commercial arrangement has evolved into a vital element of our local culture, shaping the Netherlands in unique and lasting ways.

With bilateral diplomatic relations dating back to 1612, this labor agreement elevated the relationship between the two nations, fostering unprecedented levels of cultural integration. As a result, both societies have intertwined, creating new cultural patterns and a shared heritage that continues to influence and strengthen our communities.

Following these developments, it did not come as a surprise that Türkiye has become a focal country in the International Cultural Policy of the Netherlands (ICB). As we near the end of the 2021-2024 policy period, it is important to emphasize that Türkiye will continue to be a focal country in the upcoming 2025-2028 term. This ongoing focus reflects the enduring importance of cultural exchange between the two nations.

DutchCulture, as a key partner in the implementation of the International Cultural Policy (ICB) alongside other stakeholders, has been dedicated to understanding the cultural landscape in Türkiye. This work aims to equip artists, makers, and cultural professionals based in the Netherlands with the knowledge and networks needed to collaborate effectively with their counterparts in Türkiye. To achieve this, DutchCulture collaborates closely with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Türkiye, as well as with cultural funds and various suprasectoral and sectoral organizations in both countries.

Continuously engaging in dialogue with the cultural sector both in the Netherlands and abroad, we are focusing on how we can maximize our impact when it comes to catering cultural actors with resources, knowledge and opportunities.

In that manner, one of our most recent initiatives is the launch of our renewed digital Cultural Mobility Funding Guide, designed to assist makers in finding funding opportunities to support their international projects. Makers willing to realise their projects in Türkiye can access a comprehensive list of sector-specific funding options available simply by selecting 'Turkey' as a destination filter.

Artist residencies are another vital aspect of DutchCulture’s work, particularly through our TransArtists platform, which hosts one of the world’s largest databases of artist residency programs, featuring over 1.400 opportunities worldwide. We are currently conducting research on international residency organisations in Türkiye to provide our audience with an up-to-date overview of available programmes. In this context, we invite arts residency organizers in Türkiye to fill in our online form to introduce their organisation and programs, to be included in our extensive database.

Last but not least, our commitment to Türkiye remains strong as we continue to spotlight exemplary cultural collaborations, provide mapping of the country's cultural landscape, and showcase organizations and programs that serve as vital resources and inspiration for artistic practices. Meanwhile if you wish to satisfy your curiosity over the Netherlands’ cultural activities in Türkiye, make sure that you visit our dedicated country page, and dive into our recent publication Roaming New Roads: DutchCulture Database Mapping 2023.

If you are a Dutch or Netherlands-based maker willing to collaborate with Türkiye and you have questions, you can reach out to our country advisor Dicle Gulsahin.