Shared Cultural Heritage: Program

In recent decades the Dutch government has committed itself to the preservation of Shared Cultural Heritage (SCH). The ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education Culture and Science have formulated a new policy for the period 2013-2016. The aims of the current SCH policy are:

• The promotion of international collaboration because this advances intercultural dialogue, deepens cultural identity and increases the sense of connection between peoples.
• The durable preservation of shared heritage because this provides opportunities for critical reflection of our own history and has a positive effect on local living conditions.
• Increasing opportunities for the Netherlands. Collaboration on SCH increases Dutch knowledge in this field and in this way SCH can be employed for public diplomacy and economic diplomacy.

The Netherlands are working on shared heritage in association with Suriname, Brazil, the United States, Russia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Japan and Australia.

For more information on the policy framework Shared Cultural Heritage 2013-2016 click here