The city that seems to be ahead of the pack in terms of organising and managing its bid is The Hague, which already has a landing page on its website where it has started collecting ideas on things to do. 

“In 2033 The Hague has the opportunity to become the European Capital of Culture. This rare honor, available only once every fifteen years, is a unique chance to celebrate our city's rich cultural heritage and bring our community together. By leveraging the power of culture, we can create a lasting impact across the city, embracing a diverse range of stories and perspectives. We invite everyone to join us on this journey. Culture shapes a shared future, holding different meanings for each of us, and our strength lies in this diversity.

The Hague, a beautiful city by the dunes, deserves to showcase its vibrant cultural expressions and the wealth of individual talents within our community. While this may seem like a distant dream, now is the time to turn it into reality by supporting our candidacy!

The initiative to make The Hague the European Capital of Culture comes from our city's cultural creators—artists and innovators who recognize the potential of our cultural landscape. A year ago, during the presentation of the Cultural Vision The Hague 2033, the city council adopted a motion to support this initiative, indicating that our politicians are open to considering our candidacy.

To advance this idea, we are developing a cultural manifesto: a document that reflects the collective values of our community. This manifesto will outline our priorities, vision for the future, and the significance of becoming the European Capital of Culture. However, we need your input to ensure it truly represents our diverse community and its cultural aspirations.

Based on this manifesto, the city council will vote early next year on whether to pursue an official nomination. All potential candidate cities will then prepare a detailed bid book to submit to the European Commission in 2027. In 2029, we will learn if we have been selected to hold this title in 2033”.

Another city that intends to participate in the race is Nijmegen.

"This is the goal of the city's cultural and social organisations, and the municipality of Nijmegen is embracing this initiative. With the broad support of the Arnhem-Nimega Green Metropolitan Region, the province of Gelderland and many other partners, we are taking the first steps towards an official application: a unique opportunity to demonstrate how culture makes a difference. Nimega is a city of contrasts and connections. With a history spanning more than 2,000 years and a young and vibrant energy, it is a place where the past, present and future converge. You can feel this during the Four Days Marches, at festivals, in theatres, in debates and on stages where local and international talent engage the public.

Our city is growing rapidly. We face major challenges in terms of housing, energy, healthcare and social cohesion. Culture, in particular, can make a real difference in these areas: as a source of creativity, a driver of collaboration and a means of shaping the city of tomorrow. In Nijmegen, culture is not a marginal factor, but a way to accelerate progress.

With its motto “Old City, Young Spirit”, Nijmegen showcases what makes it unique: a city with a rich history and a youthful, creative energy. Its cultural ecosystem is dynamic and diverse, ranging from major festivals and established institutions to innovative creators and engaged communities. This makes Nijmegen a strong candidate for 2033.

Groningen also seems to be serious, even though it is the latest arrival. At the moment, there are articles online discussing the desire of some parties to nominate the city for the European title. In recent weeks, they have presented a motion to the city council asking the city government to explore this possibility.

Groningen is a city in the northern Netherlands. Its central Grote Markt square is home to the centuries-old Martinitoren clock tower. The adjoining Martinikerk is a large Gothic church with frescoes and a baroque organ. Set on a canal, the futuristic Groninger Museum showcases modern and contemporary art, plus ceramics. The Northern Maritime Museum traces the history of shipbuilding and shipping in the region.

Three years ago, Zwolle also announced its intention to compete for the title: ‘We really want to showcase our cultural offering,’ said Councillor Monique Schuttenbeld in an interview with De Stentor. But since then, nothing seems to have happened.

We will see if other cities will follow in the footsteps of Leeuwarden, the last Netherlands city to become European Capital of Culture in 2016, which left an important legacy in the region.

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EcocNews is an independent, non-profit, online newspaper. We cover the world of European and National Capitals of Culture.
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