Publication: Reaping the rewards

Among the many activities DutchCulture organises, the international visitors programme is a firm favourite. A programme that helps connect cultural professionals from different countries and organisations. Participants exchange knowledge and ideas, learn about each other’s culture, and, above all, forge lasting relationships.

On average, every year some 40 foreign cultural professionals participate (in 2022 there were even 109). People from key cultural organisations are invited to visit the Netherlands to meet Dutch cultural experts, become acquainted with different Dutch cultural professionals and organisations and experience Dutch cultural activities. Likewise, the Dutch cultural field profits from coming into contact with their international counterparts, becoming inspired by professionals who bring new and different ideas, and seeing their familiar world through the eyes of people from another culture.

In times of social and political unrest – such as the war in Ukraine and the earthquake in Turkey – cultural mobility and access to a solid international network do not only offer support; they can be a lifeline to protect and save heritage, cultural structures and even cultural identity. And so, these visits have shown to benefit everyone involved, often in unexpected ways.

In our publication Reaping the Rewards - Building Lasting Relationships through Visitors Programmes, we show the added value of these visitors programmes, and highlight some of the most rewarding visits.