La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida
Missi del Casal
"Qui som /
Què fem?
El Casal Català dels Països Baixos es una organització independent i sense ànim de lucre fundada al 1974 a Amsterdam.
Hi participen unes 300 famílies catalanes/holandeses de socis, esteses per tota Holanda. Compte amb el suport de la Generalitat de Catalunya
El Casal Català dels Països Baixos té dues missions:
1. Agermanar als Catalans residents a Holanda oferint activitats de caire social i cultural,
2. Promoure entre els Neerlandesos la coneixença i interès pel poble de Catalunya, la seva cultura i llengua.
Per més informació et convidem a visitar
New Page 1 o envia un email a
info@casalcatala.nl.
Fins aviat !
Wie zijn wij /
Wat doen we?
De Catalaanse Vereniging in Nederland is een non-profit organisatie opgericht in 1974 in Amsterdam.
Aan de activiteiten doen ca 300 Catalaanse/Nederlandse families. De vereniging rekent op de ondersteuning van de Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalaanse regering).
De Catalaanse Vereniging in Nederland heeft twee hoofddoelen:
1. Het versterken van de band tussen de Catalanen die in Nederland wonen, doormiddel van sociale en culturele activiteiten;
2. Om Nederlanders te interesseren voor de cultuur, taal en het volk van Catalonië.
Voor meer informatie, bezoek
New Page 1 of stuur een email naar
info@casalcatala.nl.
Tot ziens !
Who are we /
What do we do?
The Catalan Union of the Netherlands is a non-profit organization founded in Amsterdam in 1974.
Around 300 Catalan Dutch families participates in our activities. The Union has de support of Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan government).
The Catalan Union of the Netherlands has two main missions:
1. To strengthen links among Catalonians living in The Netherlands by means of social and cultural events;
2. To create awareness and stimulate the interest of the Dutch for Catalonia, its culture, language and people.
For more information we welcome you at
New Page 1 or otherwise send an e-mail to
info@casalcatala.nl.
See you soon!
Catalans Overseas Today
By Albert Arroyo i Mariné, Secretary for Co-operationAbroad
During the course of history, thousands of Catalans have had to emigrate to other countries around the world, for many different reasons; sometimes voluntarily, sometimes involuntarily. These migrations were usually motivated by economic, political, academic or scientific reasons, the largest migratory wave having taken place after the Republican government was overthrown by Franco in 1939. As a result many Catalans had to go into exile and live in what were sometimes very difficult conditions.
However, moving abroad did not lead these emigrant Catalans to distance themselves from their home culture and identity; on the contrary. While, on the one hand, these Catalans and their descendants have integrated into the culture of the lands where they settled, establishing strong social and economic links which have continued into their second and third generations, these families have also succeded in maintaining strong ties at a very profound level with Catalonia.
But that is not all, as they have also strengthened these ties by promoting Catalan identity and culture around the world, to the extent that they have become de facto ambassadors of Catalonia. Most of this work has been carried out by the many casals catalans (organisations that function as Catalan social and cultural centres), which have become true points of reference with respect to promoting Catalonia abroad. Interestingly, these casals catalans are associations comprised not only of Catalans and their descendants, but also of people who, after having discovered our country and its culture, have become active members.
There are currently 107 casals catalans in 38 countries around the world. These centres promote Catalan culture by organising a wide range of different activities: Catalan language courses, celebrating traditional Catalan festivals, film showings, choirs, theatre groups, exhibitions, conferences, concerts and cultural festivals.
However, casals catalans have now reached an important point in terms of their organisation and management. While they do plan to continue the important work they have been carrying out to date, they also want to increase their influence in order to become even more effective at promoting Catalan interests and culture overseas.
With this aim in mind, the organisers are aware that they will have to make full use of the opportunities provided by new technologies, as well as any other actions they deem necessary for promoting Catalonia in the areas where they are established.
Meanwhile, it is important that we in Catalonia should be made aware of the enormous efforts which these casals catalans have carried out until now. To this end, the Catalan Communities Abroad law was passed in 1996, a ruling which established a framework of links between the casals catalans in the many different countries in which they are based. In addition, the Catalan government (through the Secretaria de Cooperació Exterior—the Department of Cooperation Abroad) has introduced a number of support policies for the casals so that they can continue to do their work efficiently. And, in particular, in 1999, the Catalan parliament also gave its support to these casals, by declaring April23(or the firstSundaythat falls after this date) the International Catalonia Abroad Day.
Catalonia Today, Opinion - Thursday, April 21, 2005 "
