Russia

DutchCulture condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought immense changes to the cultural cooperation of the Netherlands with Russia. All official collaborations with state-related cultural organisations have been stopped. Read the official position of the Dutch government on cultural cooperation with the Russian Federation and Belarus (in Dutch).

What is the official policy of the Netherlands regarding cultural collaboration with the Russian Federation and Belarus?

The official government position on cultural collaboration with the Russian Federation and Belarus is stated in a letter (in Dutch) by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science dated 9 March 2022.

The letter advises the Dutch cultural and creative sector to continue to support independent, critical organisations and individual thinkers and artists in the Russian Federation and Belarus. At the same time it asks to stop all formal and institutional cooperation with the governments of the Russian Federation and Belarus, as well as their associated cultural institutions.

How can I collaborate with Russian artists and cultural workers?

The Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises the Dutch cultural and creative sector to continue to work with and offer space and / or opportunities only to independent, critical individual Russian and Belarusian artists, journalists and independent cultural organisations.
Please note that The European Union (EU) has imposed a number of sanctions against Russia. Do you have questions about the sanctions? Read this document about sanctions related to cultural goods. You can also consult the frequently asked questions of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) or get in touch with their advisors.

I need to help someone in the Russian Federation to travel to the Netherlands. What do I need to know?

Travelling
As all air traffic to and from the European Union has been cancelled, you cannot travel to the EU directly.

Due to a decision of the Russian authorities to declare Dutch consular staff of the Netherlands embassy in Moscow persona non grata, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs suspended, from April 27th, 2022 onwards, the issuance of short-term visas to citizens of the Russian Federation.*

The consulate-general in St Petersburg is closed since 20 February 2023.

The Embassy in Moscow remains open for visa applications (long-stay visas only), consular certificates/declarations and to provide consular assistance to Dutch nationals in Russia.

* An exception will be made for applications on the grounds of compelling humanitarian reasons, MVVs, as well as for applications in cases in which it has been bilaterally agreed upon that they require priority treatment.

Netherlands Worldwide offers you up-to-date practical information about the situation in Russia. The Dutch page of Netherlands Worldwide is updated more frequently than the English version. You can consider using the Dutch site with Google translate for the latest information.

Partnerships with the embassy
In light of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, active collaborations or relationships with state institutions are stopped.
 
Information & advice
Feel free to contact our advisor Tijana Stepanovic with your questions.

Further reading

• Webpage of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Moscow and the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg
• Info point Dutch cultural cooperation with Ukraine
• The official government position on the cultural collaboration of the Netherlands with the Russian Federation and Belarus as stated in a letter by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (9 March 2022)
• Follow the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Facebook here and here, and the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg on Facebook