In the period 1999-2009, promoting cultural participation was a key objective of cultural policy in the Netherlands and its southern, Dutch-speaking neighbour Flanders, in Belgium. Programmes and decrees were developed on both sides of the border aimed at promoting cultural participation, for example the Cultural Outreach Action Plan (Actieplan Cultuurbereik) (2001) and the Ten-point Plan for Cultural Participation (Tienpuntenplan voor cultuurparticipatie) (2007) in the Netherlands and the Local Cultural Policy Decree (Decreet lokaal cultuurbeleid) (2001) and Participation Decree (Participatiedecreet) (2008) in Flanders. Cultural participation is unequally distributed across the population, while at the same time participation in some forms of culture is stagnating or declining. Art forms supported by the government, in particular, such as modern dance, classical music and opera, draw a relatively limited, well-educated and indigenous public, and a public which is moreover ageing. But the better-educated are also overrepresented among the participants in what are considered more popular forms of culture, such as pop music, the amateur arts and club and associational life. Tackling this problem, let alone resolving it, is however far from simple, for several reasons. The nature of the problem has changed over time due to changes in the range of cultural content available and in opinions as to what kind of cultural activities should be regarded as important. As a result, it is unclear when the problem can be regarded as resolved, or even what the objectives should be. There is little clarity as to which policy interventions are successful. And finally, little research has been carried out that supports the underlying assumptions on which cultural policy is based. This study compares the policy on promoting cultural participation pursued by the Dutch government with that of the Flemish Community in the period 1999-2009, and analyses the results achieved by the two approaches. In order to be able to compare the two ...