Open Call for the International Visitors Programme 2026
Nieuwe Instituut invites cultural organisations in the Netherlands to apply for a grant of up to €2,500 (excluding VAT) to support a visit by one or more international guests. The visit should last several days and stimulate international networks and exchanges with the Dutch-based design sector, including architecture, urban planning, design, fashion, digital culture, and gaming. Following last year’s introduction, the open call again includes a fast-track process with a separate application deadline for events taking place in early 2026.
10 November 2025
Every year, dozens of international professionals visit the Netherlands with support from Nieuwe Instituut’s International Visitors Programme. We help cultural institutions in the Netherlands realise their visitors programmes through this open call. The International Visitors Programme is partially made possible by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An overview of visits in previous years can be found here.
Fast-track and regular process
As introduced last year, it is now possible to apply to the open call for programmes taking place between 1 January to 28 February 2026 via a fast-track process, for which the applications close earlier. The deadline for the fast-track application is 5 December 2025. For organisations that are applying to the regular open call, for programmes that take place between 1 March and 31 December 2026, the deadline is 6 February 2026.
Who can apply?
Cultural organisations in the Netherlands can apply. Educational organisations are eligible provided the visit benefits a specific activity demonstrably outside the scope of their regular undertakings and is open to the public. Foreign organisations and embassies cannot apply.
Read more about the conditions, requirements and procedure for both the regular and fast-track open call through the button below.
Application
This grant is for travel and subsistence costs of a visit by one or more professionals established outside of the Netherlands – such as designers, curators, directors, theorists, policy advisers and journalists – working in the fields of architecture, design and digital culture. The visit must deepen and broaden a publicly accessible programme, bolster the international contacts of the organisation and the visitor, or promote the establishment or development of a specific collaborative project in or with the Netherlands. Please read the conditions and requirements carefully before applying.
The grant can also support a digital visitor programme, such as setting up online meetings between one or more guests and the organisation, a discussion with a specific group of international colleagues, or the online presentation of one or more guests to a wider audience. The main criterion remains that the programme must enable international knowledge exchange and network expansion for the design sector in the Netherlands.
Please submit your application form by email to n.yasmin@nieuweinstituut.nl, before 5 December 2025 for the fast-track open call and before 6 February 2026 for the regular open call. Please put ‘IBP OC Application Submission’ as subject of the email. An external committee will evaluate the applications.
