400 years of Arabic in the Netherlands in collaboration with Leiden University
Excellent and worthy, 400 years of Arabic studies in the Netherlands
In 2013, we commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the establishment of official university ties in language and culture between the Netherlands and the Arab world. This made the Netherlands one of the first Benelux countries and one of the first European countries to establish relations with the Arab world in this area. Atlasbridges/Go Arabic, in collaboration with its partners including Leiden University Libraries, the Academic Historical Museum, and the municipality of Leiden, intends to use this fact as a guiding principle or common thread for their activities for the 2013/2014 academic year. Atlasbridges and its partners will, as much as possible, align their activities this year and in the coming years under this banner. The Atlasbridges/Go Arabic program for the coming year will, based on 400 years of mutual ties, highlight various aspects of language, culture, and history between the Netherlands and the Arab world. Naturally, we will reflect on the developments in language and culture over the past four hundred years. However, we believe it is more important to keep an eye on the future; After all, 500,000 people of Arab descent live in the Netherlands. What can Arabs and Dutch learn from each other in linguistic, cultural, social, and economic terms? These activities should ensure that these two communities gain a new perspective on their relationship and their shared history. Developing bilateral relations between the Arab world and the Netherlands offers the opportunity to share each other's language and cultural wealth, and is also a prerequisite for continuing this history on a new foundation and finding a way to achieve a harmonious multicultural society. To ensure the success of this project, which will promote exchanges between these two communities, it is crucial to establish, develop, and maintain contacts with organizations and universities in both regions. "400 Years of Arabic in the Netherlands" aims, on the one hand, to demonstrate how this encounter unfolded and to commemorate its most important events. On the other hand, it aims to commemorate and honor this shared history by organizing various events in several major cities in the Netherlands and the Arab world. In 2013/2014, Atlasbridges/Go Arabic will launch numerous projects together with its partners, focusing on language, culture, economics, education, and tourism. These projects will boost the relationship between the Mena region and the Netherlands. The official launch of the Institute of the Arab and Islamic World (IAIW) will serve as the keynote for all festivities surrounding this theme.
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