Travel

Dutch Pavilion to Be Relocated to Awaji Island After Osaka Expo Ends

OSAKA, May 21 (News On Japan) - Following the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the Dutch Pavilion will be relocated to Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, organizers announced. Built using reusable materials with relocation in mind, the structure will be reconstructed by the Pasona Group in cooperation with the Dutch government.

At the Expo site on May 20th, Slovenia—known for its beekeeping industry—held a special event to mark World Bee Day. Meanwhile, one of the most popular attractions, the Dutch Pavilion, drew long queues.

The centerpiece of the pavilion is a striking white sphere, 10.6 meters in diameter—the same as the face of the Tower of the Sun from the 1970 Osaka Expo. Designed as a vision of a "next-generation sun," the dome has become a defining symbol of the pavilion.

With a total floor area exceeding 1,000 square meters, the pavilion was constructed using materials specifically chosen for easy disassembly and reuse. It was revealed that Pasona and Dutch representatives had reached an agreement to rebuild the structure on Awaji Island after the Expo concludes.

"We're still discussing how exactly the pavilion will be used," said Pasona executive director Makiya Nanbu, "but we're considering ways to blend Dutch culture and art into its future role."

Mark Kaupaers, a government representative from the Netherlands’ display division, remarked, "This pavilion will become a legacy not only of the Osaka-Kansai Expo but also of Awaji Island."

The parties also plan to hold further discussions on whether the pavilion’s interior exhibits will be reused in the future.

Source: KTV NEWS

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