Schiedam, Netherlands — Korean traditional alcohol is now being exhibited in the National Jenever Museum of the Netherlands as part of a new exhibition called “Sterk Verbonden – Strongly Connected.” The exhibition opened this week and focuses on how migrant communities in Schiedam use traditional alcohols to stay connected to their culture and to share their stories with others.
Schiedam is known as the home of Dutch jenever, but it is also a city made up of many migrant families. The exhibition includes the stories of 12 people with roots in countries such as Korea, Japan, Poland, Ukraine, India, Türkiye, and Portugal. Each person explains what their traditional alcohol means to them and how these drinks help keep memories and traditions alive.
The Korean story is told by Lee Yeonsoo, who lives in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband. She brews her own makgeolli at home using nuruk, keeping a part of Korean fermentation culture in her daily life. Her story is displayed with photos and brewing items, showing how Korean traditions continue even far from home.
The opening night of the exhibition also celebrated this mix of cultures. Guests enjoyed omija-soju cocktails along with Indian samosas, showing the diversity of the community. Julia Mellor, founder of The Sool Company and guest curator of the exhibition, gave a special lecture about how Korean alcohol influenced her own life as a migrant in Korea and how it helped her understand Korean culture more deeply.
Mellor worked with the Jenever Museum to create an exhibition that is easy to understand and welcoming to all visitors. By showing drinks like Japanese sake, Chinese baijiu, Portuguese bagaço and Indian feni, the exhibition demonstrates that traditional alcohols are more than beverages—they are stories, memories, and symbols of home.
“Sterk Verbonden – Strongly Connected” is open now at the National Jenever Museum and will run until March 2026.
For Korean readers, this exhibition is an important moment: Korean sool is being recognised in a national European museum, showing its cultural value and growing interest around the world.
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