Dutch Cultural Week in Tirana brings art, sport, and dialogue

Dutch Cultural Week in Tirana brings art, sport, and dialogue

From October 9 to 11, Tirana will host the Dutch Cultural Week, celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Albania. The program features exhibitions, discussions, and cultural events that blend art, sport, and dialogue, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries.

• Football legends return to Tirana

The opening ceremony takes place on October 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Air Albania Stadium with the exhibition “Ajax – 17 Nëntori / Tirona – Reunion and Photo Exhibition.” The event recalls the historic 1970 match between Ajax and 17 Nëntori (now Tirana), which ended 2–2 and became a symbol of sports diplomacy. Dutch football icons Arie Haan and Ruud Krol will return to Tirana to reunite with former Albanian players for a panel discussion and photographic exhibition featuring rare images from that era.

• Art and identity

Later the same day, at 5:30 p.m., the exhibition “Amsterdam Rainbow Dress” opens at Vila 31. The installation — a dress made from the flags of countries where queer identity remains criminalized — includes 30 photographs from the past nine years. Curator Arnout Van Krimpen will present the project on October 10 at 17:00, and the exhibition will remain open to the public October 10–11, from 10:00–13:00 and 17:00–20:00.

• Dialogue and reflection

The week concludes on October 11 at 17:00, also at Vila 31, with “Dialogue with Artists – Linking Past and Future.” Dutch curator Kim Knoppers and Dutch-Albanian designer Felice Emanuels will discuss memory, tradition, and innovation in art and design, exploring how Albanian textile motifs are reimagined through modern Dutch industrial design.

• Celebration of friendship

The Dutch Cultural Week in Tirana offers a vibrant blend of art, sport, and intercultural dialogue, underlining the shared values of creativity, memory, and collaboration between Albania and the Netherlands.

What else: All events are free and open to the public.

Following this week, Tirana will host the Japanese Cultural Week from October 12 to 18, dedicated to Japan’s rich heritage.