{"id":41842,"date":"2023-05-03T00:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T00:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/oneport-limited-going-smart-going-green-copy\/"},"modified":"2023-06-30T05:41:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T05:41:45","slug":"a-nod-to-all-things-nikkei-in-the-netherlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/a-nod-to-all-things-nikkei-in-the-netherlands\/","title":{"rendered":"A Nod to All-Things Nikkei in The Netherlands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Japan and The Netherlands share a vibrant bilateral relationship that dates to 1609 \u2014 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<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MONO-JAPAN 2022 participant | \u00a9 Harada Shokodo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Japanese design on display at MONO JAPAN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The MONO JAPAN Fair<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the fair returned in 2022 with its 5th<\/sup> edition, bearing the theme \u201cPost-Pandemic Craft: Our New Relationship with Craft Making\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherry blossoms in profusion at Amsterdamse Bos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdamse Bos<\/a>, 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 \u2014 the park features several kilometers of well-marked walking and cycling pathways running through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bloesempark – Amsterdamse Bos | \u00a9 Shutterstock.com\/fokke baarssen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Zen vibes at Amstelpark\u2019s and Clingendael Estate\u2019s Japanese gardens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> is located by the park’s Great Pond. To commemorate the 400th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hague | \u00a9 Shutterstock.com\/Aperture Exposure Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/sup> century the estate\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese culture on parade at Amstelveen\u2019s Japan Festival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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