Culture of Peace — The Netherlands
Cultuur van Vrede
Part of the RYB Global Development network
NL
A Habit Called Cultuur van Vrede
Cultuur van Vrede means Culture of Peace, in Dutch.
It names a national habit: solving conflict through dialogue, not force.
The Netherlands has practiced that habit for centuries.
From canal-side debates to international courts, peace runs through Dutch history.
This page tells that story, and connects it to today’s global mission.
The Netherlands at a Glance
The Netherlands counted 18,080,828 residents in 2025.
Amsterdam is the capital. Parliament and government sit in The Hague.
The country joined the European Union on 1 January 1958.
How the Netherlands Governs Itself
The Netherlands works as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
A king or queen serves as head of state.
A prime minister leads the government, with support from the Council of Ministers.
Twelve provinces and 342 municipalities share daily governance.
Twenty-one water boards manage flood defence, a distinctly Dutch tradition.
The Kingdom also includes six Caribbean territories, outside the European Union.
A Strong Economy, a Global Role
The Netherlands ranks third in the EU for GDP per capita.
Dutch GDP per capita reached €48,900, well above the EU average of €37,600.
The country contributes 6.3% of the EU’s total GDP.
That strength gives the Netherlands real influence over Europe’s future.
Peace and Diplomacy, From The Hague to the World
The Hague hosts the UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) for Western Europe.
UNRIC connects the UN to civil society, media, and the creative community.
It also advises EU institutions in Brussels on communication.
The Netherlands and the Sustainable Development Goals
The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide global action until 2030.
Together, they target poverty, inequality, injustice, and climate change.
The Netherlands pursues these goals at home, and abroad.
Anna Pot serves as National Coordinator for the SDGs in the Netherlands.
She works with ministries, municipalities, companies, and the wider SDG movement.
SDG Nederland alone unites more than 1,400 organisations behind this mission.
From Our Data Revolution: Tracking Dutch Policy
RYB’s Data Revolution tracks how Dutch policy meets these global goals.
One article asks the Netherlands to fix tax policy and aid coherence.
Another tracks a 70% cut to foreign aid, and its global impact.
→ Netherlands — Global Development
→ Dutch Finance Policy: From Prosperity to Controversy
Explore Cultuur van Vrede
This page is only the starting point.
Six paths lead deeper into Dutch culture and peace history.
Arts and Culture
Discover how Dutch art and culture express peace, from museums to public space.
History of the Dutch Peace Movement
Trace decades of nonviolent activism, from early pacifists to modern campaigns.
Dutch Feminist Peace Advocacy
Meet the women who linked feminism and peacebuilding in Dutch history.
Peace Organizations
Browse the organisations working for peace across the Netherlands today.
Cultural Diplomacy
Learn how Dutch culture builds bridges between nations.
Cultural Institutions
Explore the institutions that keep Dutch culture, and its peace mission, alive.
From Amsterdam Outward
Within the Netherlands, Amsterdam carries a special role.
There, we are testing a new idea: Amsterdam Creative City for a Culture of Peace.
Looking Forward
Cultuur van Vrede is more than a translation.
It is an invitation, to every visitor, to see peace as Dutch culture.
As we publish new pages, this country profile will keep growing.