The Netherlands Plan to Close 4 Embassies to Cut Costs

On Sunday, the Netherlands announced plans to close five embassies, including its mission in Bujumbura, Burundi, as part of a re-organization of its diplomatic network in response to budget cuts.

Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a letter to the President of the House of Representatives that there is a strategic realignment of the Netherlands’ global diplomatic relations. 

The move aims to cut the mission network’s budget by 10%. This step comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and a broader government effort to cut costs.

The embassies in Burundi, Cuba, South Sudan, Libya, and Myanmar will be closed, along with consulates-general in Antwerp (Belgium) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

This step is expected to save €25 million.

Therefore, the Netherlands targets maintaining its diplomatic presence through alternative structures. For example, in Brazil, the embassy in Brasília and two Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSOs) will continue their job after the closure of the consulate-general in Rio de Janeiro.