Japan and The Netherlands share a vibrant bilateral relationship that dates to 1609 — over four centuries of robust trade, strategic cooperation, mutual respect, and dynamic cultural exchange. Through the years, Japanese nationals in The Netherlands have established a thriving Nikkei community, with the number of Japanese nationals residing in The Netherlands pegged at 10,460 as of October 2021.
Through the years, Japanese nationals in The Netherlands have established a thriving Nikkei community, with the number of Japanese nationals residing in The Netherlands pegged at 10,460 as of October 2021.
Expats from Japan and their descendants, as well as Dutch residents of Japanese heritage, make up the Japanese population in the Netherlands; the majority of Japanese in The Netherlands are employees of Japanese corporations in the region and are based there with their families. While most of the Nikkei in The Netherlands live in Amsterdam, there is also a representation of Japanese citizens in Maastricht, on account of the regional hub of Mitsubishi Motors in the area.
As such, there are a number of places and events across Amsterdam that one can visit for a taste of Nikkei culture. Here are some of those venues.
Japanese design on display at MONO JAPAN
The MONO JAPAN Fair is an annual three-day exhibition that celebrates modern Japanese craft and design. The event, held for the first time in 2016 at the Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam, is a platform dedicated to the elegance and beauty of Japanese design; an aesthetic that is rooted in heritage, embellished with modern thought and honed to perfection with unwavering talent. MONO JAPAN shines the spotlight on the simplicity and beauty of everyday life through a meticulously selected assortment of contemporary Japanese artisanal products. Aside from the product and art exhibitions, the event likewise showcases various collaborations, workshops, and lectures across an array of topics on Japanese lifestyle, art, traditions, and design principles.
After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the fair returned in 2022 with its 5th edition, bearing the theme “Post-Pandemic Craft: Our New Relationship with Craft Making”.
Cherry blossoms in profusion at Amsterdamse Bos
Amsterdamse Bos, which translates as Amsterdam Forest, is the city’s largest park and recreational area. Located on the outskirts of the city, the park’s lush woodlands and grassy meadows make for the perfect place to spend a restful day with family or friends. It is an ideal spot for a picnic, as well as for peaceful walks and serene bike rides — the park features several kilometers of well-marked walking and cycling pathways running through it.
One of the highlights of the park is its flowering cherry trees in its Cherry Blossom Park, Bloesempark. There are more than 400 cherry trees, gifted to Amsterdam by the Japanese Women’s Club in 2000. Every tree has a name; and when the trees bloom in the spring, the event is one of the park’s major draws. This stunning seasonal sight has made Amsterdamse Bos the best place in the city to view gorgeous cherry blossoms and has a mini-festival without ever leaving The Netherlands. There are other places in Amsterdam that boast gorgeous cherry blossoms, such as Westerpark and Jozef Israelkade (De Pijp), but none are quite as bountiful as the blooms in Amsterdamse Bos.
This stunning seasonal sight has made Amsterdamse Bos the best place in the city to view gorgeous cherry blossoms and has a mini-festival without ever leaving The Netherlands.
Zen vibes at Amstelpark’s and Clingendael Estate’s Japanese gardens
Amstelpark along the river Amstel was once The Floriade of Amsterdam in 1972, an international horticultural exhibition that was held in The Netherlands once every ten years. Today, it is a verdant parcel on the southern edge of Amsterdam, showcasing two main exhibition areas, the Glass House and the Orangerie, with seasonal exhibitions, events, and activities. The Japanese Garden is located by the park’s Great Pond. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of bilateral relations between The Netherlands and Japan, the Japanese Garden was thoroughly renovated in 2001. The garden features periwinkles that are especially beautiful in the spring, towering trees, some bonsai trees, as well as black bamboo amidst stone and rock formations.
Meanwhile, the 107-year-old Clingendael Estate Japanese garden in The Hague is a lush and stunning horticultural gem, with its exquisite and rare flora set amidst serene ponds. The garden was developed at the start of the 20th century the estate’s owner at the time, Marguerite M. Baroness van Brienen. Freule Daisy, as she was called, traveled to Japan numerous times by boat, and returned with stone lanterns, mini-bridges, as well as a number of sculptures; artifacts which are still on display at the garden, to date.
Japanese culture on parade at Amstelveen’s Japan Festival
Bask in Japanese culture at Amsterdam’s annual Japan Festival, held in Stadsplein, Amstelveen. The event has been organized yearly since 2016 by the Stichting Japan Festival (Japan Festival Foundation), a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening relations between the Japanese and Dutch people. The event was formerly held in October, but took a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and resumed in 2022 with the theme “Reconnect for Tomorrow”. In 2023, the festival is slated for June 25th and is open to the public, free of charge. This year’s theme, “Smile Together”, focuses on the joys of being connected and the comfort that comes with bridging cultures.
The Japanese Festival features aspects of Japanese lifestyle and tradition such as cultural performances, cosplay, fashion presentations, and workshops on everything from learning calligraphy and sushi making to origami. There is likewise an array of food stalls and trucks offering mouthwatering Japanese fare.
A feast for the senses at Rotterdam’s Japan Light & Food Festival
This culinary and cultural event held annually in Basisweg, Rotterdam is a celebration of Japanese art and traditions, as well as culinary heritage. Festivities take place on May 13-14, 2023, for this year’s installment of the festival. Activities and events include a light exhibition, a showcase of Japanese food and drinks, a silent disco and karaoke night, a Japanese-themed arcade, a kimono show with live demonstrations by a Japanese expert, Japanese music and dance performances, among others.
Aside from these popular venues and seasonal events, there are numerous places across Amsterdam where one can go to enjoy everything from Japanese cuisine and culture to art and artifacts. Ramen is especially popular in Amsterdam, so there is a roster of ramen houses that offer the customary Japanese dish. The city is likewise home to a number of specialty shops that sell Japanese dry goods, antiques, trinkets, ceramics, kimonos, books, paper, various types of tea, arts and crafts, and the like.
