The golden age of Holland in Istanbul

The exhibition entitled "Where Darkness Meets Light… Rembrandt and His Contemporaries" which marks the 400th year of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands and features works from the Rijksmuseum are displayed for the first time in Turkey. The exhibition, presenting a total number of 110 works, including 73 paintings, 19 drawings and 18 objects by 59 representatives of Dutch art, was opened at the Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul yesterday with participation of President Abdullah Gul, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis and Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal. Speaking at the opening, Director of Collections at Rijksmuseum Taco Dibbits stressed the importance of presenting the collection of a museum which hosts the most important works worldwide to art lovers in Turkey. Stating that the exhibit also mutually depicts the Netherlands' dialogue with the Ottoman era and the atmosphere of art in the two countries, Dibbits said that he believed the exhibition would also contribute to strengthening the rooted relations between the two countries in terms of culture and art. The exhibition will run between February 22 and July 10.