Embassies and consulates

The Netherlands has more than 150 embassies, consulates and representations to international organisations. This network of diplomatic posts falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each post employs a staff member charged with cultural affairs. Culture is often part of a broader package, which might include activities relating to the press and education.

The Dutch posts form an effective way into a country’s cultural field, especially in the places where cultural exchange with the Netherlands is in its infancy. Diplomatic posts play the role of broker in the field of international cultural policy. They connect what the Netherlands has to offer with demand in the country concerned. Knowledge of the most important venues, museums and organisations is an indispensable aspect of this role. In principle posts do not organise cultural activities themselves but can develop initiatives aimed at stimulating the demand for Dutch culture.

Each diplomatic post employs staff posted there from the Netherlands as well as local staff. Generally, the placement of a posted staff member lasts four years. Local staff members usually stay on for longer. Apart from English and in some cases Dutch, these staff members speak the language of the country and know its cultural infrastructure. Particularly in countries where there is a modest Dutch representation or with which limited cultural exchange exists, the contact for cultural affairs is often a local staff member.

International cultural policy is concentrated in a number of countries and regions. A number of Dutch embassies have an enhanced cultural function, which means that, as a rule, they have more staff members at their disposal as well as a budget aimed at stimulating cooperation with the Netherlands.

• The Dutch Embassy in Berlin, bln-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Budapest, bdp-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Brasilia, bra-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Brussels, bru-pca [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Flemish-Dutch House deBuren, dorian [at] deburen [dot] eu
• The Dutch Consulate General in Istanbul, ist-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Jakarta / The Erasmus Huis, jak-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in London, lon-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Madrid, mad-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Moscow, mos-ocz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in New Delhi, nde-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Consulate General in New York, nyc-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Ottawa, ott-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Paris / Institut Neérlandais, par-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Beijing, pek-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Prague, pra-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Pretoria, pre-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Rabat, rab [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Rome, rom-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl
• The Dutch Embassy in Tokyo, tok-pcz [at] minbuza [dot] nl

You can find all Dutch foreign posts easily by using the webportal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.