The Origin of NIHA
After the foundation of the “Dutch Institute for Higher Education and Scientific Research in Morocco” (NIMAR) on 7 June 2006, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science decided to set up a similar institute in Turkey.
As part of the chain of Dutch Institutes around the Mediterranean Sea, NIHA was established to realize the internationalization of Higher Education by means of effective promotion, initiating, maintaining and supporting all activities aimed at exchange and cooperation with Turkey at the level of Higher Education.
The reason why Turkey has been chosen as country to set up such an institute has not only been influenced by the fact that there is a huge population of migrants from this country in The Netherlands, but as well by the great potential of Turkey with it’s large, young and ambitious population with a serious interest for foreign countries and cultures and with a heavy demand for education. Besides, Turkey is a country which has been integrated far advanced in European cooperation bonds such as the “Council of Europe” and a country with which the negotiations to become a member of the European Union have recently started.
Looking at the above, the name “Netherlands Institute for Higher Education Ankara” and the logo 
were chosen.
The groundwork for the foundation was done by Mr. John Kroes, General Director of the Office for Information, Communication and Students of Leiden University (ICS), Prof. Dr. Erik-Jan Zürcher, Professor in Modern Turkish History at Leiden University and Mr. Jak den Exter, Project Manager and as per 1 November 2006 Director of NIHA.
Until July 2006 mainly was worked on the legal design, the institutional integration and the creating of the policy plan 2007-2009.
In July 2006 a suitable building for NIHA was found.
The tenancy agreement was signed on 1 September 2006. High priority has been given to the restoration and furnishing of the building (see fotographs below). Lots of efforts were given to make sure the opening of NIHA (in consultation with Leiden University, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ankara) would take place at the proposed date.
