The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development was established on 6 September 1996 to mark the 70th birthday of H.R.H. Prince Claus of the Netherlands. The objectives of the Fund are to enhance and expand insight into cultures and to promote interaction between culture and development.
The Fund adopts a broad and dynamic approach to culture. Culture refers both to the way people go about their daily lives and to the values and processes that add meaning to life. The development of ideas and ideals, the ways in which people express these, are the main interest of the Fund.
The interaction between culture and development is regarded by the Fund as confirmation of culture’s integral role in development processes. Culture is a basic need.
The Fund is aware of the post-colonial situation in which an ‘imposed’ culture has become part of indigenous culture. This has resulted in cultural activities that generate new ideas and forge new contexts. The desire to rediscover and re-evaluate one’s own history is recognised by the Fund, while old values are sometimes reinterpreted in new circumstances with new meanings
Z.K.H. Prince Claus © RVD photo: Ruud Taal / Capital Photos
The Prince Claus Fund was presented by the Cabinet to His Royal Highness Prince Claus on 6 September 1996 in recognition of his major contributions in the field of development cooperation. In his opinion people’s own ideas and ideals are the driving force of development and culture and development are inextricably linked together. People’s dignity and their power to direct their future form the basis for change and development.
