Plans are afoot to develop a map of Dutch heritage in Kerala and work in this regard will start by May end this year, Dutch Ambassador to India Bob Hiensch said.
"We are discussing with experts on how to preserve various dutch monuments, its cultural heritage. Aim is to make it more visible," the Ambassador told reporters here last night.
The Dutch Palace built in 1557 and Dutch cemetery and David Hall are among the surviving legacies of the Dutch East India company here.The David hall has been renovated into an art gallery.
Netherlands has 'special ties' with eight countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, South Africa besides India where it wants to work together with local authorities, Civil society and NGOs, in ways to restore the shared heritage, he said.
In 2007, the Dutch government signed an MOU with the Indian Government to work together to preserve the heritage sites and dutch monuments in India. A major Dutch archives in Tamil Nadu built by the Dutch East India company has been preserved in Chennai.
The Ambassador, who first came to Kochi during the 'Volvo Ocean race' last year, said the relationship between India and Netherlands was over 400 years old.
The Ambassador said he would make all efforts to encourage dutch investors come to Kerala as the state had a highly educated population much more than in different parts of India which is a 'big USP'.
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