Getting closer to Netherlands in six days: Dutch Week held in Astana

The main goal of the event is to introduce the Dutch culture to the Kazakhstan public, highlight the contribution of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan's economy, business and culture, as well as initiate new ways of cooperation between the two states, the Kazakh MFA's press service said.

According to the Ambassador of Netherlands to Kazakhstan Peter van Leeuwen, the two countries have a rich experience in economic cooperation, while the Dutch week is a first step to expanding the cultural ties.

The grand opening of the Dutch week took place on May 14 at the Nazarbayev Centre. Here, the Ambassador Peter van Leeuwen officially opened an art exhibition of a worldwide famous Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf.

"Many people associate Dutch art with Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and by exhibiting Erwin we would like to show contemporary Dutch art through the mastery of photography," the Ambassador Peter van Leeuwen said at a press conference on May 11.

The winner of the prestigious Johannes Vermeer Award in 2011, Erwin Olaf combines photojournalism with studio photography. His provocative pictures from series such as "Fashion Victims" and "Royal Blood" made some call him scandalous. His oeuvre challenges hypocrisy, cruelty, consumer culture, and social control. Some of his photographs, for instance, show men crying.

The Astana public awaited Erwin Olaf's exhibition with unconcealed curiosity. The exhibition at the Nazarbayev Centre includes his pictures from the philosophical series such as "Fall," "Hope," "Grief," "De La Mar Theatre," "Hotel," and similar.

These series let the viewer evaluate the photographer's artistic quest, his mastery of work with colour and composition, the possibilities of computer technologies and, more importantly, Erwin Olaf's always recognisable style and outlook on life.

Most of the works showcased at the exhibition were made in recent years. Projects "Hope" and "Grief" present a different Olaf, the author said in an interview two years ago He described them as 'calm pictures,' united by his deep reflections on human feelings and emotions.

The exhibition presents 40 of Olaf's works and is open until May 28. Entry is free of charge.

A friendship ice hockey match on May 15 turned into the second great event of the Dutch week. The team of the diplomatic corps met the players of the Astana city administration at the Barys Stadium. The rivals were evenly matched and showed a very exciting game. The city administration team won with a score of 8:6.

Presenting the Cup to the Astana administration team, Peter van Leeuwen thanked the team of the diplomatic corps for a decent game and all the participants for an entertaining hockey match. He noted that sports are very important for communication and friendship among people.

"I am very pleased that we are holding this game, which can unite our countries, within the Dutch week in Astana. The art exhibition and the hockey game were successfully held and attracted a wide interest. We will be pleased to organise such events in the future and further develop our cooperation," Peter van Leeuwen said.

Kazakhstan is becoming increasingly recognisable in the Netherlands and the Dutch embassy is considering an idea of organising a Kazakhstan week at home, the Ambassador highlighted. The idea will be discussed with colleagues from the Kazakhstan embassy in The Hague, he added.

All citizens of Astana were invited to the event, and there was a good turnout of spectators.

A round table on Introducing Bike Culture in Astana was in the third day's programme. The event took place at the Master Plan of Astana Scientific Research and Design Institute, during which Dutch experts presented their bike urbanisation project.

The same day, a Dutch film festival opened at the Khan Shatyr Cinema. "The Hell of '63," "Twin Sisters," and "Black Book" were screened during the three days of the festival. The movie choices reflected the variety of genres in the Dutch cinematography, as well as introduced the most topical issues in the Netherlands society. Entry was free of charge.

The Dutch week will end on Saturday, May 19. The Astana city administration and the Dutch Embassy plan to organise a bike ride in the morning, as part of the "Introducing Bike Culture in Astana" project. The event includes an official opening ceremony, a 4 km ride, and an award ceremony. All Astana citizens are welcome to the event that will start near the Baiterek monument.

An Aruban band concert is scheduled for the evening at the Nazarbayev Centre. The concert will bring a sense of Caribbean tune mixed with the Dutch motives.