SPATA Convention: Polish Traces in Amsterdam

The 65th Annual SPATA Convention took place in the Benelux countries of Europe and started with a very special Polish exhibition, Polish Traces in Amsterdam organized by the Polish Culture NL Foundation. The Benelux countries, or Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg collectively, is where the power of the continent of Europe is concentrated. This is where the world came together after the world wars, where some of the most influential business in the world manifested, and where global politics continues to take shape. This is also a place touched deeply by Polish culture and influence, as presented in the art exhibition that traces the history of Polish influence in the city of Amsterdam, one of the capitals of these powerful countries.

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As Amsterdam celebrates its 750th birthday, the exhibition Polish Traces in Amsterdam celebrates how Poland helped shape this global city. The exhibit reveals that Amsterdam’s literal foundation is Polish; the wooden pylons driven into the ground that hold up the buildings along the famous canals come from Polish forests! In fact, as Amsterdam’s economy achieved it’s heights, Poland in the 17th century was also experiencing a political and economic boom. This success brought with it scientific and cultural achievements that Polish immigrants proudly spread across the continent. From the iconic Tuschinski Theatre to street names like Henri Polaklaan and the warehouse De Pool, the Polish presence is woven into Amsterdam’s urban fabric. Even Rembrandt incorporated a Polish nobleman into one of his famous paintings The Polish Rider (Rembrandt van Rijn, 1655).

SPATA was honored with a private lecture by Bożena Kopczyńska, Chairperson of the Polish Culture NL Board. Mrs. Kopczyńska painted a vibrant picture of the Polish immigrants that played pivotal roles across time in this incredible city. The walls in the exhibition are decorated with informational panels that describe everything from the construction of the city that included the Polish wooden pylons mentioned above, to photos of art and historical documents that exist across the city for the Polish treasure hunter to discover. From paintings in the Rijk museum, to street names out in the open air, finding these Polish traces can become an exciting game for any tourist with Polish heritage. In fact, the group was tasked by Mrs. Kopczyńska to find a selection of traces that our itinerary would come across.

Adjunct-directeur Andrzej Pawluszek, (Poolse Organisatie voor Toerisme) receiving an award from SPATA President Honorata Pierwola for his continued high achievements in his role as an ambassador to Poland in the Netherlands, and as a friend to SPATA.

This personal lecture was arranged by Polish Tourist Office Adjunct-directeur Andrzej Pawluszek. Andrzej has been a close SPATA friend and collaborator, building the bridge between Holland and Poland that has resulted in a marked increase in tourism from the Netherlands to Poland. Under Andrzej’s tenure, Polish culture has become much more visible, resulting in a stronger interest from the Dutch in our beautiful Eastern European country.

We encourage you to visit this exhibition where it is available, and you can find information about it at the website below. Polish Traces in Amsterdam is organized in the framework of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, is made possible primarily through the generous support of Stichting Amsterdam 750, Keizersgrachtkerk, en het Cultuurfonds. With financial support from the Polish Embassy in Den Haag and the Polish Tourist Office, highlighting the importance of building cultural bridges between Amsterdam and Poland.