The most recent policy on international cultural cooperation by the Dutch government is the International Cultural Policy 2025–2028, published in January 2024. The policy is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Implementation is supported by various cultural funds and institutions.
Key objectives are:
- A strong position of the Dutch cultural sector abroad through sustainable cooperation, exchange, and visibility.
- Supporting bilateral relations with other countries through Dutch cultural expressions.
- Leveraging the strength of the cultural and creative sector to promote sustainable development, with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the guiding framework.
The policy identifies 24 focal countries where efforts will be concentrated. These countries are selected based on strategic interests and the potential for meaningful cultural collaboration. For each, specific agreements and implementation plans are developed in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
DutchCulture functions as a centre for international cooperation and has a coordinating, advisory and informative role. The Dutch diplomatic posts have a central role in implementing the policy. Together with the Dutch public funds for culture and several institutions that work in international cultural cooperation, they implement multiyear strategies. The country specific strategies can be found on the website of DutchCulture.
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