Exhibition: Ortak Miras / Shared Heritage - Bıçakçı Han, Konak, Izmir, 2 December 2025 - 31 January 2026

The ‘Netherlands and Turkey: Common Heritage’ exhibition, organized in cooperation with Konak Municipality of Izmir and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, brought together the cultural traces of more than 400 years of friendship between the two countries. Many common values, from the Bergama Carpet to the tulip tradition, came together in the exhibition. At the ceremony hosted by Konak Mayor Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu, the Dutch Ambassador to Ankara Joep Wijnands, and the Izmir Honorary Consul for Netherlands, Oğuz Özkardeş were also present. A Pergamon Carpet, featured in the famous painter Pieter de Hooch’s painting dated 1667 was re-woven with the efforts of women’s cooperatives, was one of the most striking pieces of the exhibition. In addition, a patchwork piece produced in the workshops held by the Dutch aid teams with earthquake-affected children after the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, featuring the image of the Girl with a Pearl Earring, Delft Blue tiles, tulip bulbs, which are the symbol of Ottoman and Dutch relations, and depictions of Levantine history, attracted great attention from visitors. Bringing together architecture, art and commerce, the works address the areas of interaction between the two cultures within a broad framework.