14-15 April 2010 an international conference arranged within the framework of the program Window to the Netherlands to the 15th anniversary of founding the Russian-Dutch scientific society (Russian-Dutch Club) took place at the Menschikov Palace.

The Russian-Dutch scientific society (Russian-Dutch Club) was founded on June 6, 1995 in Saint Petersburg by the initiative of the State Hermitage and the M. Lomonosov Fund of the Russian Academy of Science. The Society supports studies of the history of relations between Russia and the Netherlands, their scientific, cultural and artistic contacts.

Among members of the Russian-Dutch Club are employees of museums, libraries, archives, Saint Petersburg State University, Dutch researchers of Russian-Dutch scientific and cultural relations.

Results of research held by club’s members regarding the history of relations between Russia and the Netherlands, the influence of Dutch map-making on Russia’s, connections of Dutch artists, engravers, publishers with Russia and, first of all, with Saint Petersburg were summarized at the conference.

Participants of the meeting outlined the prospects of further projects.

Preservation of historical and cultural heritage was also discussed.

Dutch colleagues presented to Petersburg researchers the programs of registration (map-making) the conservation of Dutch paintings in Russia’s museums.

Petersburgers shared the problems of conservation and restoration of scientific collections.

Researchers from Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Nizhnevartovsk and Amsterdam took part in the conference.