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17-25 October 2026

Nederlands China Design Symposium

Dutch-Chinese collaboration and the opportunities that arise when two very different creative cultures meet.

Hosted by Vereniging Nederland China

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Access

Paid with registration

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Event type

Seminar

Accessibility

Free wifi available
Toilets available
Fully wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair friendly toilet available

Opening hours

16:00
-
18:00
Nederland China Design Symposium
Nederland China Design Symposium
Nanjing University of the Arts
What makes Chinese design so Chinese? How are today’s designers influenced by China’s long history, culture, and rapidly changing society? How do Chinese and Dutch designers bring their different perspectives together?

The speakers

At this exciting symposium you will get, after a short introduction to the DDW, answers to these questions by prof. Wencong Wang, Vice Dean of the School of Industrial Design and Intelligent Innovation of Nanjing University of the Arts, Robert Barnhoorn, Founding Partner Spark Innovation and Design and Sachi Claringbould, former Deputy Consul General and Head of Economic Affairs of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Shanghai.

After their presentations you are invited to a network event where views and ideas can be exchanged. And of course, there will be drinks and snacks.

The program

15:30 – 16:00 Walk-in.
16:00 – 16:05 Welcome by Cindy Shao on behalf of the VNC.
16:05 – 16:10 Representative of ACIEN: “Short speech”.
16:10 – 16:20 Loes Voermans, Program manager @ Dutch Design Foundation: “About the DDW and its international scope”.
16:20 – 16:40 Wencong Wang, Vice Dean of the School of Industrial Design and Intelligent Innovation of Nanjing University of the Arts: “Chinese Characteristics in Design”.
16:40 – 17:00 Robert Barnhoorn, Founding Partner Spark Design and Innovation: "Designing with China".
17:00 – 17:20 Sachi Claringbould, former Deputy Consul General and Head of Economic Affairs of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Shanghai. “The Netherlands and China working together”.
17:20 – 17:30 Q&A.
17:30 – 18:00 Networking with drinks in Bar Casimir, Nat. Lab Strijp-S.

Moderator: Prof. Daan van Eijk, Faculty of Industrial Design , Delft University.

Register

Register on:

https://www.vnc-china.nl/en/event/netherlands-china-design-symposium-at-the-ddw/

Come for the design, stay for the conversation – and discover China from a different perspective.

Sponsor: Association of Chinese Investment Enterprises in The Netherlands (ACIEN)

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About Vereniging Nederland China

The Netherlands-China Association (VNC) is dedicated to sharing knowledge about China and connecting networks. The VNC is the oldest active China-related association in the Netherlands. Founded in 1977, it remains vibrant and relevant today. We are an independent organization committed to fostering better dialogue and cooperation between the Netherlands and China across cultural, business, and educational spheres.

Partners

Sponsored by Nederlands China Design Symposium