Tuscany is a region much loved by the Dutch, a file rouge links the two countries. Since the days of the nineteenth century Grand Tour, the Dutch have appreciated the Tuscan landscape, both urban and rural, and its lifestyle including art, wine and food. On the other side Tuscans, through centuries, have always travelled to Netherlands. Among the most famous, the Medicis, who, because of their banking business there, started to enrich their art collections with paintings and Flemish tapestries (see on that purpose the post on tuscany holiday rent blog ”A Firenze Galleria degli Arazzi: Epifanie di tessuti preziosi” published on March 22nd 2012 ) . Nowadays these peoples are linked by shared interests and passions ranging from fashion , art up to environment.
Thence the great cultural partnership between Netherlands and Tuscany, called “Olandiamo”, which includes events taking place along the whole year 2012 in Firenze, Lucca, Pisa, Prato and Leghorn. The Dutch ambassador Alphonsus Stoelinga, on April the 17th 2012, started this initiative to enhance the relationship between the two countries with the documentary exhibition about Anna Frank at Prato.
After May the 16th, 2012, it will be transferred to Leghorn and Lucca. The issue is still relevant and the personal story of Anna Frank and in general the Jewish persecution during the second world war have to stimulate the necessary and up- to- date reflections on the basic values of tolerance and freedom.
Exhibitions on art , performances are planned to highlight the artistic exchange as well. From May the 3rd up to the 13th, 2012 sound installations of the Dutch artists Ronald van der Meijs and Jeroen Uyttendaele have been scheduled at the Florentine festival, Fabbrica Europa.
On the respectful attention to environment the cycling event at the Cascine, Florence, is focused on Saturday 12th 2012. Its prelude the joint press conference in Palazzo Vecchio, on Friday May 11 by Mr. Stoelinga and Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi. They are going to underline the cycling advantages as to pollution, energy saving and a new way of moving downtown, drawing on the long established Dutch experience. A cycling tour for families, who will be offered T-shirts and led lights will follow the following day.
Just a hint at the planned next events
-the conference on Carrara marble and Lowlands in June
-the Pisa Book Festival in November
– the exhibition of architectures and art at Pecci Center for Contemporary art, Prato, in December
-the Dutch textile designs in February 2013 at the Museo del Tessuto a Prato.
Plenty of excuses for a holiday in Florence, profit from the holiday accommodations offered by Tuscany Holiday Rent
