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Embassies and consular services for Netherlands
| Location | Service areas |
|---|---|
| Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
| New Zealand Embassy to The Netherlands | Netherlands |
Our relationship with the Netherlands
The Netherlands is a close partner of New Zealand, with a relationship based on shared values and interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. The Netherlands is a key partner on foreign policy. Like New Zealand, it is a strong supporter of multilateralism, the rules-based international order, economic diplomacy, and human rights.
Trade and investment
The Netherlands is the 18th largest economy in the world. It is the world’s second largest agricultural exporter and a global supplier of agri-tech and hort-tech. It is a logistics hub for Europe and the world: the Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest, and Amsterdam Schiphol is the European airport with the most connections.
The Netherlands is an important export market and is New Zealand’s second largest trading partner within the EU. It also provides a key source of investment into New Zealand.
The Dutch Business Association NZ(external link) (DBA), established in 1993 as The Netherlands New Zealand Business Association, supports professional and business links between the Netherlands and New Zealand.
In July 2023, New Zealand and the EU signed a high-quality, comprehensive, and progressive Free Trade Agreement which entered into force in May 2024. As a European Union member state, the Netherlands is party to the EU-NZ FTA. The FTA contains world-leading commitments on sustainable and inclusive trade.
The latest information about New Zealand's trade profile with the Netherlands is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard.(external link)
People and culture
In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European explorer to sight New Zealand, but it wasn’t until the 1950s, when New Zealand and the Netherlands signed an assisted immigration scheme, that significant numbers of Dutch immigrated to New Zealand. By 1968, they formed the biggest group of non-British immigrant groups and today more than 150,000 New Zealanders claim Dutch heritage. There is also an expatriate New Zealand community in the Netherlands.
Cultural connections between the countries deepened in 2010 when Te Hono ki Aotearoa, a waka carved by Hekenukumai Busby, was gifted to the Wereldmuseum in Leiden. The gifting is subject to a 100-year kaitiaki agreement between Toi Māori Aotearoa, Ngā Waka Federation, the Njord Rowing Club, and museum staff. A Dutch crew trained in tikanga Māori, kawa, haka and waiata ensure the livelihood of Te Hono ki Aotearoa as the only waka taua to be entrusted by Māori to another culture. More information can be found on Wereldmuseum Leiden website(external link).
Information for young Netherlands citizens interested in living and working in New Zealand can be found on Immigration New Zealand’s Netherlands Working Holiday visa(external link) website.
Young New Zealand citizens looking to work/study in the Netherlands can find more information on the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation website(external link).
Aid and sustainability
We have numerous scientific research and education links. There is strong academic and research cooperation between Wageningen University in the Netherlands and Massey University. The two institutions have engaged in staff exchanges and researchers collaborate on issues such as global food safety, agriculture and environment policy, agricultural economics, and agribusiness.
The Netherlands is an active member of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, an initiative co-founded by New Zealand which focuses on the research, development and extension of technologies and practices that will help deliver ways to grow more food without growing greenhouse gas emissions.