Culture and People-to-people - Poland
Let's connect
School of dialogue
In The Netherlands, over 1000 schools participate in the educational program ‘School of dialogue’ founded in 1998 in the city of Utrecht. Since its introduction in Poland in 2019, the embassy has been supporting the implementation of this program to the effect of an ever-growing amount of Polish schools participating.
The program teaches: individual responsibility, expressing thoughts and feelings, maintaining dialogue on difficult issues and reaching consensus. Thus, teaching today’s youth how to handle themselves in society, to actively participate in public life and build a better future.
History binds us
Dutch Mennonites found a safe haven in Poland; Tylman van Gameren built castles and churches for Polish kings; Princess Marianne van Oranje created roads and founded schools and hospitals in Silesia and we will never forget the brave Polish men who fought for the freedom of Poland and the Netherlands during WWII. The Polish-Dutch connection reaches far back. Honoring that fact, the Embassy is therefore supporting heritage projects, such as an exhibition on General Maczek and his soldiers.
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Outdoor exhibition “General Maczek and his Soldiers"Outdoor exhibition “General Maczek and his Soldiers” on the streets in Warsaw. -
Landscape of ZuławyLandscape of Zuławy region, Polder created by the Dutch colonists Mennonites. -
St. Kazimierz ChurchSt. Kazimierz Church in Warsaw Project by Tylman van Gameren. Grafiek van A. Kozarski (1836).
On the big screen
Cultural expression is a way of showing what we stand for, what we believe in, and where we find common ground. In addition to being present at the larger film festivals in Poland with Dutch contemporary cinema; feature films, short films, documentaries, arthouse and genre cinema, Dutch film professionals and experts participate in debates, seminars, workshop programs and industry meetings.
The Netherlands supports artists, cultural practitioners and institutions in developing meaningful international practices. Our international cultural policy recognizes the value of exchange, artistic freedom of expression and reciprocity, and creates space for Dutch makers to connect with peers in Poland. Cultural cooperation contributes to dialogue, shared learning and sustainable relationships, while also strengthening the international position of the Dutch cultural sector.
Here you can find information on our international culture policy 2025-2028 and funding possibilities for DutchCulture and bilateral cultural cooperation.
International Cultural Policy 2025-2028
Poland is one of the priority countries for culture. The following principles apply to the international cultural policy for 2025-2028:
The Dutch cultural sector will occupy a strong position abroad through visibility, exchanges and long-term partnerships.
Dutch cultural expression will be used to support bilateral relationships with other countries, as culture provides opportunities to promote mutual understanding and trust.
We will harness the power of the cultural sector and creative industries in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The right to cultural expression, as an element of freedom of opinion, is a principle that deserves to be internationally recognized and defended.
International cooperation on cultural heritage contributes to solutions to social issues in the Netherlands and abroad, and ties in with the government’s aim of increasing knowledge about our shared history, values and freedoms.
Read more about the International Cultural Policy Framework HERE !
Priorities of the Netherlands in Poland
With the overall aim to contribute to sustainable connections and in line with the International Cultural Policy Framework, the priorities of the Embassy in Warsaw are:
1. Support projects that promote a strong international position for Dutch Cultural Sector by:
boosting the economic, social and intrinsic value of Dutch Art and Culture
developing opportunities for Dutch cultural makers to expand audiences internationally
developing opportunities for Dutch cultural makers to learn from international peers and enhance their own level
providing International audiences with opportunity to experience Dutch Art and Culture
2. Support bilateral relations through cultural projects that:
use culture as a strategic instrument towards diplomatic objectives
foster dialogue about policy topics, norms and values
encourage reciprocal cooperation
3. Using power of cultural and creative sector to promote sustainable development by:
enabling sector to contribute to SDG objectives and goals
supporting and protecting artists' free expression
E-mail: war-pcz@minbuza.nl
In the arts, the Netherlands has an international reputation to keep up. Every year, thousands of Dutch artists and cultural organisations travel the world and show that they are easily as talented as their colleagues abroad. The Netherlands itself is also an attractive destination both for budding and established foreign artists, thanks to the excellent infrastructure, an inquisitive public, the easy distances between the major cities and institutions and fast connections to hot spots like Paris, Warsaw and Berlin.
Design, architecture, visual arts and e-culture
Dutch design has received international acclaim, with the design company Droog Design leading the way, while Dutch architecture was made world famous by Rem Koolhaas. Thanks to Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Mondrian and Cobra, the Netherlands was traditionally known as the ‘land of the painters’. What is striking about modern fine arts, however, is the large diversity of media and styles. Many Dutch e-culture organisations are literally pushing back frontiers, among which the functionally pioneering Waag society, the activist Mediamatic and the conceptual V_2. Our tangible and immaterial heritage has many manifestations, and insight into our common cultural heritage contributes to the understanding of our history as well as modern political developments.
Dance and music
Variation is the key word in the art of dance too. Dutch modern dance is internationally renowned. This applies both to an established institution such as Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and smaller companies led by choreographers such as Emio Greco, Anouk van Dijk and Krisztina de Châtel. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is absolutely world class, but the Netherlands is also trendsetting in other genres than symphonic classical music, with names like Louis Andriessen, DJ Tiësto and Ton Koopman.
Literature and theatre
With only some 23 million speakers, the Dutch language is no world language, but Dutch authors are gaining international popularity thanks to translations of their works, with the International Impac Dublin Award for Gerbrand Bakker’s Boven is het stil (The Twin) as the latest apogee. Young theatre makers such as Dries Verhoeven, Lotte van den Berg and Boukje Schweigman overcame the language barrier with visual and interactive theatre. A leading theatre company like Toneelgroep Amsterdam, with artistic director Ivo van Hove, performs on many international stages, whenever possible in the language of the host country.
Film and fashion
The Dutch film industry is a small but flourishing sector. Dutch art house films and documentaries in particular find their way to international festivals. The Netherlands plays a small but not unimportant role in the international fashion industry, thanks to the many pioneering stylists, marketers, photographers and creative entrepreneurs occupying key positions with major fashion labels, and of course a number of trendsetters like Viktor & Rolf, Marlies Dekker and Alexander Slobbe.
The overview of language courses is not an exhaustive list of institutes and is based on information the embassy has received from the universities and other organizations. For changes please contact by e-mail .
Full-time studies
WROCŁAW
Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Katedra Filologii Niderlandzkiej im Erazma z Rotterdamu
ul. Kuźnicza 21/22
50-138 Wrocław
tel.: 71 375 27 88
fax: 71 375 29 37
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.kfn.uni.wroc.pl
LUBLIN
Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Ośrodek Kultury Niderlandzkiej
ul. Racławickie 14 pok. 945
20-950 Lublin
tel.: 081 445 39 45
fax: 081 445 41 23
http://www.kul.pl/o-katedrze,art_34124.html
POZNAŃ
Uniwersytet im Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
Wydział Anglistyki
Zakład Studiów Niderlandzkich i Południowoafrykańskich
Al. Niepodległości 4
61-874 Poznań
tel.: 61 829 3506
tel.: 61 829 3572
fax: 61 829 3512
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
http://wa.amu.edu.pl/dutchafrikaans/dutch
WARSZAWA
Wszechnica Polska
Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Warszawie
Instytut Filologii i Pedagogiki
Pałac Kultury i Nauki, VIII piętro Pl. Defilad 1
00-901 Warszawa
tel.: +48 22 129 17 80
tel.: +48 22 656 62 56
tel.: +48 608 670 533
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
https://wszechnicapolska.edu.pl/kandydaci/studia-I-stopnia-licencjat/filologia-niderlandzka-od-podstaw-studia-warszawa-licencjat-2
Dutch language as subsidiary subject
WARSAW
Uniwersytet Warszawski
Instytut Germanistyki UW
ul. Browarna 8/10
00-301 Warszawa
Tel.: 022 55 20 931
Fax: 022 55 20 914
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.germanistyka.uw.edu.pl
KRAKOW
Instytut Filologii Germańskiej
Uniwersytet Jagielloński
ul. Czapskich 5
31-120 Krakow
http://www.filg.uj.edu.pl/
ŁÓDŹ
Uniwersytet Łódzki
Wydział Filologiczny
Katedra Językoznawstwa Niemieckiego i Stosowanego
ul. Sienkiewicza 21
90-114 Łódź
Tel.: 042 635 40 00
Tel.: 042 665 51 15
https://www.uni.lodz.pl/strona/szczegoly/zajecia-dla-uczniow-wydzial-filologiczny-ul
Language courses
BIAŁYSTOK
Koło Kultury Niderlandzkiej "WILHELMUS"
I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Adama Mickiewicza
Sz. P. Katarzyna Zawadzka-Gromada
ul. Brukowa 2
Białystok
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
KATOWICE
LinguaCity
ul. Kochanowskiego 18
40-035 Katowice
tel. 32 726 27 78
tel. mobile +48 696 43 41 42
tel. mobile +48 728 36 36 33
fax: +48 32 444 69 40
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.lingua-city.com
Międzynarodowe Centrum Językowe Translator
(również w Chorzowie i Rudziej Śląskiej)
ul. Warszawska 3, IV piętro
40-010 Katowice
tel./fax: 32 206 80 95
info: 0 801 003 073
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.translator.edu.pl
KRAKÓW
Nederland Instituut Kraków
ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 118
Tel.: 12 625 18 80
Tel.: 12 625 18 81
Fax: 12 341 54 06
e-mail: Sekretariat
e-mail: Nederland Instituut Kraków
www.nederlandinstituut.pl
ŁÓDŹ
Szkoła Języków Obcych
EuroDialog
ul. Traugutta 18, Łódź
www.eurodialog.pl
OLSZTYN
Prywatna Szkoła Języków Obcych "The Globe" Izabela Werner
Grunwaldzka 24a/7
10-124 Olsztyn
Tel.: +48 509 577 521
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
POZNAŃ
Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa „Kadry dla Europy”
ul. P.Mansfelda 4
Poznań, pokój 200
Tel.: 61 6 582 414
Fax: 61 663 20 64
Tel. kom.: 663 786 190
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.kde.poznan.pl
WARSAW
Dom Holenderski
Towarzystwo Przyjaźni Polsko-Niderlandzkiej
ul. Katowicka 9
03-932 Warszawa
tel. /fax: 22 616 20 91
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.tppn.pl
Fundacja Inicjatyw Międzynarodowych i Obywatelskich Centrum Europy
ul. Pankiewicza 3 (II piętro)
00-696 Warszawa
tel.: 22 629 45 88
fax: 22 629 77 83
tel. mobile.: 691 719 073
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.ce.edu.pl
Uniwersytet Warszawski
Uniwersytet Otwarty
Krakowskie Przedmieście 24
00-927 Warszawa
tel. 22 55 24 040
tel. 22 55 21 529
fax 22 55 21 529
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.uo.uw.edu.pl
WROCŁAW
Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Ośrodek Kultury Niderlandzkiej
ul. Uniwersytecka 28A
50-138 Wrocław
Tel.: 071 372 41 29
e-mail: Contact by e-mail
www.kfn.uni.wroc.pl
ON-Line
Helen Koolschijn
http://languagecourses.weebly.com
EUNIC Warsaw cluster is a network of European national institutes for culture, embassies and other organizations working together in an open, cooperative style within a compact, flexible administrative structure since November 2007. EUNIC aims to strengthen European integration and cultural diplomacy through intensive cultural cooperation. Since 2006, EUNIC’s members work in over 100 countries with over 2,000 branches.
The host country, Poland, is an EU member since 2004 and has shown a clear interest in cultural cooperation with EUNIC since its very beginning.
The strategic objectives of EUNIC Warsaw cluster are:
- Facilitating, as a network, cultural cooperation between local partners countrywide and the cultural sector in our home countries.
- Promoting the multiplicity of European cultures and the values that underpin it. Prioritizing intercultural dialogue, tolerance, multilingualism, sustainable development, artificial intelligence and ethics, gender equality, and people with disabilities. Our focus is on a broad audience: citizens of all ages and walks of life.
- Maintain dialogue with Ukrainian and Belarussian cultural sector in Poland.
You can contact the EUNIC Warsaw cluster through: eunicwarsaw@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/eunicwarsaw
https://www.eunicglobal.eu/
Guidelines for Applying for Financial Support
Funding of Dutch cultural presentations abroad is done by the culture funds in the Netherlands. Please, explore your possibilities to apply for funding at one of the Dutch Culture Funds before contacting the embassy.
Cultural funds in the Netherlands
Performing Arts
For music, dance, theatre and festivals.
Performing Arts Fund (Fonds Podiumkunsten)
Film
Film productions, festivals and individual training for film professionals.
The Netherlands Film Fund (Nederlands Filmfonds)
Architecture, design, e-culture
Focuses on all the designing disciplines and on E-culture in a broad sense.
Creative Industries Fund NL (Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie)
Literature
Supporting writers and translators, promoting Dutch literature abroad.
Dutch Foundation For Literature (Nederlands Letterenfonds)
Visual Art, design and Photography
Visual arts and cultural heritage.
Mondriaan Fund (Mondriaan Fonds
Cultural heritage
Mondriaan Fund (Mondriaan Fonds)
Dutch Culture Heritage Desk
Exchange of knowledge and experience
Dutch Culture Heritage Desk
The embassy
The embassy in Poland has access to limited funds for supporting small-scale projects in line with the Dutch International Cultural Policy. The focus of our activities is on organizations rather than on individual artists.
The number of applications the embassy receives every year substantially exceeds the available budget. Therefore, the embassy has to make a comparative analysis of all project applications. From the application submitted, only the projects that contribute to our policy goals the most are selected. The grants awarded are conditional upon sufficient funds available in the budget of the embassy.
Before ideating and submitting a project proposal, kindly go through the below check-list that serve as guiding principles:
Purpose of Funding
The embassy supports project that create a strong position for the Dutch art & cultural sector in Poland, through visibility, exchanges and long-term partnerships; developing opportunities for Dutch cultural makers to expand their audience internationally.
The activity supports the bilateral relationship between the Netherlands and Poland, foster dialogue about policy topics, norms and values and/or encourage reciprocal cooperation.
The power of the art & culture sector are used in efforts to achieve sustainable development such as supporting and protecting artists' free expression.
The project contribute to the protection of Polish-Dutch mutual cultural heritage.
Who Can Apply
Both Dutch and Polish organizations (legal entities) can submit a project proposal. Applicants based in the Netherlands must have a partner organization in Poland.
We consider a cultural maker or organization to be Dutch when they are “Netherlands-based” or have the Dutch nationality.
There is a priority given to applications from organizations applying for the first time.
Basic principles
Application should be submitted at least six weeks prior to the starting date of the project.
Projects should be implemented in Poland (with exception to visitors programs to the Netherlands).
Embassy is funding a maximum of 50% of the total project budget of the Dutch part of a project including: travel and accommodation costs of Dutch participants in the project, (art) transport costs for the Dutch part of the project, production costs for the Dutch part of the project as well as communication costs for the Dutch part of the project
Application should include a transparent and realistic budget proposal.
Not applicable for funding are:
Strictly commercial projects.
Mainly or purely scientific project and costs related to scientific studies or publications.
Student exchanges, study costs, research and travel costs of students and researchers.
Projects in the framework of Public Relations and/or general Holland promotion.
General infrastructural and overhead costs, honoraria of members of the applying organization, (exceptions are possible up to a maximum of 15% of the total subsidy).
What makes an application strong
Proposals that stimulate Dutch-Polish reciprocal, long-term cultural exchange.
A clearly defined description of the impact/ result of the project.
Integration of topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, fair-pay and sustainability.
A well-considered communication and visibility plan.
Application Process
Applications for financial support from the embassy are made on-line only by starting the process underneath.
Before you start: make sure you have all the required information ready. The form will not be saved during completion. If you would like to see what information will be requested, you can view this example form in https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/documents/d/global/subsidyapplication-en
You will receive a confirmation of your application at the email address you provided.
With this mail you will find an Supplier Registration Form.
This form together with a prove of your bank account should be sent to war-pcz@minbuza.nlThe embassy can contact you in case the embassy has additional questions.
A decision is usually made within 4 weeks after submission.
*Please note that the above points are intended as guiding principles to encourage strong, equitable, and sustainable collaborations. They do not imply any prior commitment or funding guarantees. Each project proposal will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account its specific context, clearly defined results, and the unique strengths of the partnership. The final selection will prioritize quality, (strategic) relevance, and potential for long-term impact, while maintaining flexibility in approach.