Europe from a Chinese perspective

As the Netherlands takes on the Presidency of the European Union, Europe is under mounting pressure. Rising powers such as China are increasing their influence on the world stage. What is China’s view of Europe? What can Europe learn from China? Tu Weiming, one of the great Chinese philosophers of our time, discusses these changes from a neo-confucianist perspective, arguing that we need a new, progressive idea of humanism.

According to Weiming, Chinese philosophy can help us to achieve this. After his lecture, there will be an interview with Tu Weiming and an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

Edges of Europe

During the first six months of this year the Netherlands holds the Presidency of the European Union. But what is left of the dream of European unity? At the Holland Festival international artists present a series of performances focusing on current European issues and exploring this changing continent. The festival’s opening performance by Estonian directors Ene-Liis Semper and Tiit Ojasoo Die Stunde da wir nichts voneinander wußten shows the diversity and tensions of modern Europe. And in their film Ash and Money they focus on the phenomenon of political populism. Directors Milo Rau (The Dark Ages), Joël Pommerat (Ça ira (1) Fin de Louis), Wael Shawky (Cabaret Crusades: The Secrets of Karbala) and Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha delve into Europe’s past, exploring the effect of some of its history’s darkest chapters. From the heart of Europe, the collective God’s Entertainment stages a test about chauvinism, which is causing the European dream of unity to falter. The Dutch theatre company Wunderbaum responds to European issues in its project The New Forest. A large Syrian orchestra for Arabic music will reunite for a special concert in Africa Express Presents… The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians with Damon Albarn and Guests. Artists may not be able to change the world, but they can change the way we look at it.