Chinees Cultureel Centrum in Den Haag

20/10/2026

On 17 October 2026, the China Cultural Center in The Hague hosted its Autumn Tea Gathering, co-organised with the Netherlands Hexing Calligraphy and Painting Society. The event focused on traditional Chinese ink landscape painting and was attended by Yu Jian, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, and 12 guests from the Dutch arts community.
The session began with instructor Lin Yong introducing the four traditional Chinese arts — music, Go, calligraphy and painting. Guests were then served Yashixiang oolong tea from Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, marking the start of an immersive cultural experience.
After introducing the tools and materials used in Chinese painting, Lin Yong demonstrated how to grind an ink stick and explained the process of creating a traditional landscape painting step by step. Guests followed the instructions closely and practised the techniques themselves. The aromas of tea and ink created a distinctive atmosphere, allowing participants to explore Chinese tea culture alongside the art of painting.
To complete their artworks, guests stamped their paintings with a seal bearing the Chinese characters Xiuxin (修心), meaning “cultivating the mind”, in traditional seal script. Participants included professors from Dutch art academies and graphic designers, whose works demonstrated considerable artistic skill. The Center also provided guests with English-language travel guides to various regions of China.
The gathering offered participants an opportunity to experience Chinese ink painting and tea culture first-hand, fostering cultural understanding and exchange between China and the Netherlands.
The China Cultural Center in The Hague will continue to organise immersive cultural activities on a variety of themes, introducing more local audiences to the richness and enduring appeal of Chinese culture.

20/10/2026

To promote Chinese traditional culture among young people overseas, the fourth edition of the Cooking Lab immersive cultural workshop was recently held at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Initiated by young Chinese students in the Netherlands, the Mid-Autumn Festival-themed event attracted nearly 40 international students and young participants from different countries.
Through hands-on activities involving traditional food, crafts and clothing, participants explored the cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival. They made snow skin mooncakes, learned about the festival's traditions of family reunion, and took part in Chinese calligraphy, Chinese knot-making and Ming Dynasty-style Hanfu experiences. The interactive programme offered an engaging introduction to Chinese culture in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The China Cultural Center in The Hague supported the initiative by providing cultural information materials and creative gifts. A dedicated display introduced the Center's activities, while a prize draw offered participants Chinese cultural souvenirs. Tourism brochures and traditional Chinese tableware proved particularly popular among the students.
The workshop demonstrated how young people overseas can take an active role in promoting Chinese culture and encouraging cultural exchange between China and the Netherlands. The China Cultural Center in The Hague will continue to support youth-led cultural initiatives, encouraging the use of traditional festivals, intangible cultural heritage and Chinese cuisine to introduce Chinese culture to Dutch and international audiences in diverse and engaging ways.

20/10/2026

On 26 September 2026, The Hague's Chinatown hosted a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration with support from the China Cultural Center in The Hague. The Center provided traditional festive decorations, including large red lanterns, Chinese zodiac ornaments and strings of small red lanterns, helping to create a festive atmosphere and introduce local visitors to Chinese traditions.
During the celebration, English-language travel books featuring different provinces of China were distributed free of charge at a stand organised by the Chinatown event organisers. Covering regional attractions, history, culture and local customs, the publications attracted considerable interest from residents and visitors, many of whom were eager to learn more about China.
Through its contribution of festive decorations and cultural publications, the China Cultural Center in The Hague helped make Chinese traditions more accessible to local audiences.
When returning the borrowed decorations, the event organiser expressed appreciation for the Center's support, particularly the red lanterns and Chinese zodiac ornaments. The decorations were praised for their practicality and their contribution to the festive atmosphere and distinctive Chinese cultural character of the event.

20/10/2026

In April 2026, the children's television production team of Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS contacted the China Cultural Center in The Hague to invite a Chinese traditional dance group to participate in Zin in Zappelin, a popular children's television programme. The proposed segment focused on traditional Chinese umbrella dance. Following coordination by the Center, the collaboration was successfully arranged.

AVROTROS is one of the Netherlands' established public broadcasting organisations, with a long history of producing television content for young audiences. Zin in Zappelin, aimed at children aged two to six, is known for its lively presentation and colourful visual style and is a familiar programme to many Dutch families.
For the recording, the China Cultural Center in The Hague sent three members of its dance group, who performed two specially choreographed traditional Chinese umbrella dances. The performances introduced young Dutch viewers to the beauty of Chinese traditional dance in an entertaining and accessible way.

The AVROTROS production team highly praised the dancers' professional performances. The collaboration proceeded smoothly, with the programme team sharing the main themes of the interview in advance to ensure a natural connection between the dance performances and the accompanying conversations.

The episode was broadcast nationally on NPO 3 on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, in two time slots: 7:00–8:00 a.m. and 12:00–1:00 p.m., reaching family audiences across the Netherlands.

The programme is also available to watch on demand via the Dutch public broadcasting platform NPO Start (www.npostart.nl) and the programme's official website (www.zappelin.nl/zininzappelin).

24/09/2026

🌕 A taste of Guangdong in The Hague!

On 22 September, more than 180 guests joined us at the China Cultural Center in The Hague for Mid-Autumn Festival: A Moonment to Remember – Discover Guangdong in the Netherlands.

From Lingnan-inspired dance and music to mooncake making, Foshan lanterns, woodblock prints and silhouette art, guests experienced the culture and creativity of Guangdong up close.

A wonderful afternoon of culture, connection and celebration. ✨

24/09/2026

From Tulips to Kung Fu Tea: Dutch Travel Experts Discover Chaoshan, China 🥁

In September, the China Cultural Center in The Hague organized a week-long familiarization trip to Guangdong, China, bringing together senior tourism professionals from the Netherlands.

The delegation visited Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou and Chaozhou, discovering Guangdong’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities and unique local traditions.

📍 From September 15 to 16, the delegation explored Shantou and Chaozhou, visiting cultural landmarks and local historical and cultural sites.

🥁 In Shantou and Chaozhou, the delegates experienced the art of Chaoshan Gongfu Tea, discovering the distinctive tea culture and traditions of the region. They also dressed in traditional costumes and took part in Yingge Dance, experiencing this dynamic folk tradition firsthand and gaining a deeper appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Chaoshan region.

✨ From tea culture to traditional dance, the journey offered the Dutch tourism professionals an authentic and memorable introduction to Chaoshan culture and the unique charm of Guangdong.

24/09/2026

A Special Cultural Encounter Between Guangdong and the Netherlands! 🎶💃

During their visit to the Netherlands, the Guangdong Culture and Tourism Delegation brought the vibrant and diverse culture of Guangdong closer to local audiences through a series of lively flash mob performances.

📍 At Zaanse Schans and the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, beautiful melodies and graceful dances created delightful and unexpected encounters with passersby. Many people stopped to watch and showed great interest in the performances.

✨ Several audience members spoke highly of Guangdong culture, saying, “Guangdong culture is wonderful!” Some also expressed their wish to “definitely visit Guangzhou one day.”

🎵 The delegation also joined local audiences in singing Dutch songs together. Music, singing and laughter filled the air, creating a warm, friendly and joyful atmosphere.

🤝 Through music and dance, Guangdong and the Netherlands shared a memorable cultural encounter, bringing people closer together through the universal language of art and culture.

21/09/2026

Delighted to see Chinese martial arts thriving in the Netherlands. Best of luck to Tai Chi Apeldoorn 荷勇敢 He Yong Gan for the Tai Chi Championship Apeldoorn 2026! 📅 Sept 26, 2026

🥋 TAI CHI CUP APELDOORN 2026 🥋

Move with confidence. Find your balance. Challenge yourself.

Whether you're taking your very first Tai Chi steps or you've been training for years, this is your chance to experience an inspiring day filled with movement, friendship, and personal growth.

🌿 Everyone is welcome!

Young or old • Beginners or experienced practitioners

• Individuals, duos, and teams

Join athletes and Tai Chi enthusiasts from across the country for a day of skill, harmony, and community in a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home.

🏆 Competition Categories

✅ Bare Hand Forms
✅ Weapon Forms
✅ Duilian (Partner Forms)
✅ Duos & Team Performances
✅ Qi Gong
✅ Push Hands (Parallel Step, Fixed Step & Moving Step)

📅 Saturday, September 26, 2026
📍 Citroenvlinder 87, 7323 RC Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

Schedule

🕘 09:00 – Reception
🕤 09:30 – Registration
🕙 10:00 – Opening Ceremony
🕥 10:15 – Competition Starts
🏅 17:00 – Award Ceremony

💚 Organized by Tai Chi School He Yong Gan
📲 Register today by scanning the QR code on the poster or visit:

https://taijiquan-academy.nl/taijiquan-cup-apeldoorn-2026⁠

✨ Come for the competition...
✨ Stay for the inspiration...
✨ Leave with unforgettable memories.

Your Tai Chi journey deserves a stage. We look forward to welcoming you in Apeldoorn!

11/09/2026

# Threads Through Time: Chinese Fashion Heritage Reimagined in The Hague

On 9 September 2026, the Dutch edition of *New Threads: Contemporary Narratives of Chinese Fashion Heritage*, an international touring exhibition supported by the China National Arts Fund 2026 Communication, Exchange and Promotion Programme, opened at the China Cultural Center in The Hague.

The opening brought together Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Shen Bo and his wife; Yu Jian, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy; Yuan Zonggang, Deputy Director of the Ethnic Costume Museum at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT); Hu Xiaomei, Associate Research Fellow at the museum; Dutch art historian and China researcher at Wereldmuseum Rosalien van der Poel; Chinese painter and calligrapher Elisa Radhikumar; sinologist and publisher Lemarli; representatives of Alliance Française La Haye Anne-Sophie Dodart de l’Hermite and Elijah Obanda; and other guests from the cultural sector.

Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Yuan Zonggang described Chinese clothing as “history worn on the body.” Featuring more than 200 exhibits, the exhibition places traditional ethnic costumes alongside contemporary original designs, showing how centuries-old craftsmanship and aesthetics continue to inspire fashion today.

Guest speaker Elisa Radhikumar focused on the future of tradition. She noted that fashion is more than clothing: it carries culture, history and identity. What makes the exhibition particularly compelling, she said, is that tradition is not simply preserved, but given new life and continues to inspire new generations.

Hu Xiaomei delivered a lecture entitled *The Art of Warp and Weft: Chinese Craftsmanship and the Spirit of Cherishing Materials*. Starting with the question “What can one traditional costume contain?”, she explored clothing as a carrier of form, pattern, craftsmanship and memory, and introduced the Chinese philosophy of making thoughtful use of materials, avoiding waste, expressing values through craftsmanship and conveying emotion through clothing.

After the lecture, guests toured the exhibition and had the opportunity to try on traditional ethnic costumes, taking a closer look at patterns, textiles and techniques passed down through generations.

The exhibition received enthusiastic responses from guests. Rosalien van der Poel described it as an important and impressive exhibition and said she felt privileged to see the works in person in 2026. Sinologist Lemarli praised the way “culture and fashion intertwine across time,” while Elisa Radhikumar highlighted the fascinating combination of historical and contemporary fashion, particularly the details and fabrics. Representatives of Alliance Française La Haye also expressed their interest in further practical cooperation between the two cultural institutions.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Wang Zheng, Director of the China Cultural Center in The Hague. She noted that a nationwide public transport strike in the Netherlands on the day of the opening prevented a number of guests from outside The Hague from attending. The fact that many others nevertheless found alternative ways to join the event, she said, reflected the genuine interest in cultural dialogue. The Center will continue to serve as a bridge for deeper cultural exchange between China and the Netherlands.

A day earlier, on 8 September, a delegation from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology visited the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). The two institutions exchanged views on fashion education, materials, craftsmanship and innovation, and discussed opportunities for academic cooperation and future exchanges. The visit was facilitated by the China Cultural Center in The Hague and marked a promising step towards closer dialogue between fashion education institutions in China and the Netherlands.

The exhibition runs until mid-September. More than 200 exhibits are presented across four thematic sections — Encoding, Translation, Weaving and Coexistence — tracing the continuity and contemporary transformation of Chinese fashion heritage.

Xinhua News Agency and other media covered the opening ceremony.

26/08/2026

Discover Guangdong on Screen.