15 to 22 June 2013
The Dutch National Ballet’s contribution to the Holland Festival 2013 consists of two world premieres by two contemporary choreographers who are counted among the most important of their generation. David Dawson and Shen Wei.
Shen Wei, originally from China and known for his impressive contribution to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, is creating a work for a Dutch company for the first time. The Englishman David Dawson, who has created works for various leading companies in recent years, is renewing his acquaintance with the Dutch National Ballet in an even more intensive collaboration.
For more information please visit Het Nationale Ballet's website.
18 June 2013
Eight predominant printmakers from Wales will expose their work in a rich context of performance and techniques.
This travelling exhibition was composed thanks to the support of the Government of Wales and Wales Arts International, as well as The Original Printpalace, a social enterprise from Wales which promotes printmaking as an important form of art.
The official opening of the exhibition will take place on Tuesday 18 June from 16.00 to 18.00.
Since one of the important themes of this art is the Welsh mythology, the opening will be enhanced with the performance of storytellers from Wales and of Iranian storytellers from Amsterdam.
Some printmakers from Wales will also attend the event.
This exhibition and the opening are at Galerie Josine Bokhoven in Amsterdam.
9 to 11 June 2013, Eindhoven
The twelfth annual Apeldoorn: British-Dutch Dialogue Conference will take place at the Seats2Meet Strijp-S in Eindhoven (Netherlands).
The theme of this year’s Conference is ‘The Life Cycle of a Brilliant Idea: Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the UK and the Netherlands’. One hundred delegates from the UK and the Netherlands, from the worlds of industry, science, academia, politics, government and civil society, will come together for three days to share ideas on how our two countries can build better, more open and connected innovation ecosystems at this time of economic uncertainty in Europe.
Download the full Programme
26 May 2013, Concertgebouw Amsterdam
The viola has always played an important role in the United Kingdom. This country has another talented performer to boast about. This is apparent during violinist Rosalind Ventris’s performance of York Bowen’s Fantasia and a more recent piece by Edwin Roxburgh. During the second half of the concert, the Chinese pianist Rachel Cheung performs Debussy’s Estampes and Schumann’s demanding Fantasy Op. 17. These compositions have inspired both Roxburgh and Bowen.
16-26 May 2013 Utrecht
British performances were presented this year at the Spring Performing Arts Festival in Utrecht.
Quarantine with Rania Ho & Wang Wei presented the Kitchen Project 18, 19 and 20 May
Candoco Dance Company presented In Translation / Looking Back on 18 and 19 May
Performance by Yes Sir Boss on 23 May
21 May 2013, The Hague
Nadeem Aslam was born in Pakistan. He moved to England at the age of fourteen and lived in a community of Pakistani immigrants. His novel Maps for Lost Lovers (2004) is set partially in this community. A gripping novel which was nominated for the Man Booker Prize and won the Encore Award among others. Nadeem Aslam wrote another novel which was translated into Dutch: The Wasted Vigil (2008).
Aslam was in to The Hague on the occasion of his new novel The Blind Man’s Garden. After the attacks on the Twin Towers the Pakistani foster brothers Jeo and Mikal decide to go to Afghanistan to take care of the wounded. After they have lost sight of each other, Mikal is forced to start a search for his brother, unaware of his death. The boys’ blind father and his daughter-in-law, Jeo’s wife, are the ones left behind hoping for news.
18 - 20 May 2013, Nederhorst den Berg
From 18 to 20 May (Pentecost) the Jagthuis hosted a unique three day Chamber Music Festival to celebrate the centenary of Benjamin Britten. The Jagthuis is located between Amsterdam and Utrecht where the concerthall has a beautiful view on the polderlandscape. The wonderful chambermusic of Benjamin Britten was played by excellent musicians: Canticles, String Quartet, Serenade, Suites for Harp & Cello solo.
16 - 17 May 2013 Amsterdam
What Design Can Do is a yearly design conference that celebrates the strengths and analytical capabilities of design.
What Design Can Do is all about the potency of design today. Throughout all disciplines, What Design Can Do is the platform for presenting alternative strategies for the future.
What Design Can Do is an event hosted in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.
What Design Can Do focuses on the Netherlands and beyond. Its speakers and public are a mix of both locals and foreigners.
For more information please visit What Design Can DoMarch - May 2013
On 11 March 2013 we started with Primary Essentials; an English teachers development course for primary school teachers. The online course is meant for teachers in Dutch primary schools and is moderated by a UK expert. This is a unique opportunity for teachers to engage with each other and to help teachers develop their English syllabus and lesson plans.
16 April 2013
Learning languages is hard work and deserves to be rewarded. Young people who strive to achieve excellence in English and make active use of the English language, the BBC and ESU Young Writers, Public Speaking and Digital Voice Awards give the opportunity to show their creativity and to express their opinions.
The three BBC and ESU Awards (for young people between 16 and 20 years old) form a common focus for developing effective English language skills. Participation enhances their communication skills in English. It helps them to be more confident and to express themselves better.
For more information please see the BBC Awards website
27 February 2013, Rotterdam
On Wednesday 27 February, the British Council, in partnership with the Natural History Museum Rotterdam and de Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, presents the third Hoboken Lecture, titled 'Human evolution in Europe' by the internationally renowned Paleo-Anthropologist Professor Chris Stringer.
12 February 2013, Aristo Zalen, Utrecht
The Early English Seminar will consist of plenary sessions, practical workshops and speed-dating tables all aiming to show participants what (free online) materials and lessons plans are available to help schools and teachers with designing their English curriculum.
For more information please download the programme
14 November 2012, Utrecht
On Wednesday 14 November 2012, the British Council, Levende Talen and Mercator Kenniscentrum / Fryske Akademy organised a Language Rich symposium on Multilingualism in Education and Business at Silverijn in Utrecht.
Find out more about the Language Rich Europe results on the Language Rich website.
19 September 2012, Amsterdam
What added value culture and creative industries bring to the EU’s external relations?
The debate discussed culture and economy in the EU's external relations: how can culture and creative industries foster cultural diplomacy and cultural relations? what added value culture and creative industries bring to the EU’s external relations?
For more information visit the More Europe website19 - 23 September 2012, Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague
Once a year, STET invites the most talented graduates to perform their self-written and self-produced monologues in The Hague. These young performers opted to write and perform these solo pieces in their final year of the three year acting course at Guildhall in London. This year Michaela Coel and Jherad Alleyne were been invited to show their work to international audiences in The Hague.
For more information, please visit the STET website
31 May 2012, Utrecht
On 31 May the results of the Language Rich Europe project for the Netherlands and Fryslân were presented at the Geldmuseum in Utrecht. Take a look at the photos on the British Council Facebook page. Find out more about the results on the Language Rich Europe Blog.
16 May 2012, Amsterdam
The British Council Netherlands, together with EUNIC organised the European Literature Night in Amsterdam at the Public Library in Amsterdam on 16 May 2012.
The European Literature Night is a series of simultaneous meetings across several European cities, coordinated by EUNIC. All over Europe, well-known and new writing talents came together to explore the literature of new Europe: read from their own work, shared perspectives on life in their countries and created lively, topical discussions. Margot Dijkgraaf chaired a discussion on traumas, childhood and violance with György Dragomán (Hungary) and John Burnside (UK).
György Dragomán, John Burnside and Margot Dijkgraaf
14 May 2012, Amsterdam
Matthew Taylor, Director of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) delivered the keynote at the Citizenship Lecture on 14 May 2012. Matthew Taylor's speech is now available on the Public Cause website. The video report is avialable on De Balie website. Taylor encouraged the audience to 'tell people something that they need to hear, not what they want to hear.'
4 April 2012, Rotterdam
On 4 April 2012, the British Council in partnership with the Natural History Museum Rotterdam and de Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, organised the second Hoboken Lecture, titled 'Patterns in the History of Life' by the internationally renowned paleontologist Professor Richard Fortey. Take a look at the video report and the photography report.
29 March 2012, Amsterdam
The British Council Netherlands, the Club of Amsterdam and the Public Library of Amsterdam hosted an interactive discussion on 'The Future of Languages - More Than Just Words' on 29 March. Take a look at the video report with Mirjam Broersma (Why linguistic diversity will never disappear), Simon King (Making computers speak like individual people) Tsead Bruijna (Poetry in two languages) and the photos on our Facebook page.
11-13 March 2012, Manchester, UK
The 11th Apeldoorn: British-Dutch Dialogue took place at the Museum of Science of Industry in Manchester from 11 to 13 March 2012. Over 100 delegates came together and passionately embraced the theme of Higher Education at the Heart of Growth during the plenary sessions, workshops and site visits.
Click on the photos below to watch the short interviews.
Go the the Conference website for further photos and short interviews.
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