The European Cultural Foundation (ECF), based in Amsterdam since 1960, traces its origins to Geneva in 1954. It was established by prominent European figures including Swiss philosopher Denis de Rougemont, Robert Schuman—a chief architect of the post-war European community—and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Initially driven by the goal of fostering unity and rebuilding Europe’s social fabric after World War II, ECF has since become a significant force in promoting cultural exchange across Europe.

ECF’s early activities centered on educational and cultural programmes, including Plan Europe 2000 and the Erasmus student exchange initiative, which it managed until 1995. Headquartered on Jan van Goyenkade, it operates independently as a charitable foundation, with strong ties to the Dutch Royal Family; Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands has served as President since 2007.

The foundation’s scope includes supporting mobility grants, cross-border collaborations, and cultural policy advocacy. Its projects, such as the STEP travel grants and the TANDEM Cultural Exchange programme, facilitate creative connections and cultural management exchanges. More recently, ECF launched the Europe Challenge, engaging libraries across 14 European countries to address local and societal issues, and the Culture of Solidarity Fund, which supports cultural initiatives during periods of crisis.

With a team representing over 15 nationalities and funding partly from the Vriendenloterij and Nederlandse Loterij, ECF continues to back thousands of projects, aiming to reinforce social cohesion and meaningful dialogue within and beyond the European Union.