As a cotton printing studio opened recently in Amersfoort, it revived the centuries-old textile tradition with India as cotton printing techniques arrived in the Netherlands in the 17th century from India, according to a statement by the Indian embassy in the Netherlands, which said the studio plans to organise workshops, lectures and small exhibitions.
It also plans to invite European and Indian master craftsmen to share their knowledge and skills, the statement said.
India’s ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony opened the De Katoendrukkerij cotton printing studio with Amersfoort’s deputy mayor Willem-Jan Stegeman in De Volmolen.
“De Katoendrukkerij will now continue this rich tradition by starting a centre of expertise in contemporary block printing. Besides reviving and innovating old print techniques from India, the centre will also promote the centuries-old shared textile tradition between India and the Netherlands,” the statement issued by Indian Embassy here said.
“Their guestrooms will also be used for the artist-in-residence programme. The local council and municipality of Amersfoort is very proud to be the cradle of this mutual historical heritage and to keep this 400-year-old shared heritage alive,” a news agency quoted the statement as saying.
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) brought the famous Chintz fabric to the Netherlands in the 17th century. The first Chintz workshop was opened in the city of Amersfoort in 1678. Apart from cotton and a new design, the techniques of working with natural dyes was also introduced from India, the statement said.
The Netherlands is the third-largest foreign investor in India with investments amounting to $6.5 billion in 2019-20.
