Korea and the Netherlands, creating tomorrow together

2021 marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands .

In Korean culture, the 60th birthday has been celebrated as a special day since ancient times, called 'Hwangap'. The Embassy of the Netherlands in Korea has incorporated this wonderful meaning of completing one cycle and leaping forward to the next stage into the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands.

"Co-Create Tomorrow" is the slogan for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands, which will become richer and stronger in the future based on the past. To commemorate this special year, the embassy has carried out various activities with the cultural and artistic circles of both countries.

From co-curating the best book design exhibition in the Netherlands, Erwin Olaf's solo exhibition, to collaborating with events such as the Gwangju Biennale, EBS International Documentary Film Festival, Seoul World Dance Festival, Dutch Design Week & Seoul Design Festival, we have collaborated and supported a wide range of activities across the cultural and artistic fields .

​What We Co-Created is a collection of cultural exchanges commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands.

In 2021, Korea and the Netherlands celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations amidst COVID-19. We decided to record what cultural and artistic figures from both countries created together in a limited situation where international exchange was difficult. And we want to share that record with a wider audience who could not meet in person due to the restrictions of the pandemic.

This collection of essays was written by Korean and Dutch cultural and artistic figures, including directors, programmers, curators, artists, and designers who actually participated in cultural exchanges and created events. Through essays, author interviews, and included image materials , it contains rich stories looking back on 2021, a year rich in diverse cultural exchanges between Korea and the Netherlands.

This is a collection of cultural exchanges that will serve as a meaningful record of ‘things we created together.’