Radio Netherlands is broadcasting its radio drama The Edges of the Night Watch around the globe in Dutch, English, Spanish and Indonesian from 19 May. The three-part play will be heard around the world directly and through Radio Netherlands partner stations. It is also being broadcast by RAI Tre and Radio Suisse Romande in Italian and French. In the Netherlands, the KRO programme Dolce Vita will broadcast The Edges of the Night Watch. It will also be available on DVD.
The radio drama was produced by Radio Netherlands as part of the Rembrandt Year 400 celebrations and is set in the modern day. The main story is of a worldwide search for the missing pieces of Rembrandts best-known painting The Night Watch. When the painting was moved to the Palace on the Dam in 1715 it proved too big and two strips were cut off. The action includes flashbacks to the life of the master painter in the 17th century, Hollands Golden Age.
DVD
Radio Netherlands has also produced a DVD of the play. This includes all four language versions of the radio drama, an interactive quest based on the play, extra visual material and background information. The DVD is being distributed around the world, partly through Dutch embassies. Deputy Foreign Minister Atzo Nicolai explains: Rembrandt is an important Dutch painter and part of global history. The DVD shows you a great deal about him. About Rembrandt himself and about the Golden Age. The Dutch government regards it as important to have this seen in as many places as possible, particularly abroad. Within the Netherlands the DVD will be available through the Rijksmuseum.
Rembrandt Year 400
To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the painters birth, 2006 has been declared Rembrandt Year 400. Countless exhibitions and events will be taking place in the Netherlands, which are expected to draw around one and half million visitors. One-third of these will be from abroad. In its role as ambassador of Dutch Culture, Radio Netherlands is offering the Rembrandt Year an international, multimedia platform on radio, television and the internet. This will bring tens of millions of people around the world into contact with an icon of Dutch culture: Rembrandt van Rijn.