The Struggle between Pallas and Mercury. 400 Years of Relations between Japan and the Netherlands

At the turn of the millennium it was 400 years since the first direct contact between Holland and Japan was established. This was commemorated with a wide range of economic, cultural and scientific activities in both countries under the slogan ‘400 years of history with a future'. The underlying motivation for these celebrations seemed, however, to be economic rather than cultural. This motivation was nothing new, as the first Dutchmen who came to Japan were primarily merchants interested in making a profit and neither willing nor able to study Japanese culture