Welcome to the website of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

I invite you to have a look at the image above; pictured is a palstave, a kind of bronze axe, dating from around 1500 years B.C. It was found in the 1880's in the dunes of Loosduinen, near The Hague. Scientific research revealed that the axe was almost certainly imported from the British Isles. It is proof of relations between our two countries already existing for more than 3500 years.

In modern times official relations were established between the rebel Dutch republic and England at the end of the 16th century. Coming to the support of the young nation in its struggle against the Spanish overlords, Queen Elizabeth I described the Dutch in 1585 as "our most ancient and familiar neighbours".

In spite of the periodic commercial and political rivalry in the 17th and 18th centuries that led to four naval wars, the relationship between our two countries has continuously intensified. The "unspoken" alliance endured from the time of the Glorious Revolution, when Dutch Stadholder Prince William III of Orange became King of England, to the present day.

Britain and the Netherlands became close like-minded partners in the United Nations, NATO and the European Union.

British and Dutch armed forces are operating side by side in southern Afghanistan, where 1.700 Dutch troops in Uruzgan province form one of the leading nation contingents of the coalition.

Trade between our two countries is very important. Holland is the second foreign investor in the UK, and Britain is the second investor in the Netherlands. Anglo-Dutch cooperation in international enterprise is well established. Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, Corus Steel and AKZONobel/ICI are wellknown examples. Dutch nationals are heading British enterprises such as Marks & Spencer and Reckitt Benckiser. Many Dutch banks and companies, large and small, have settled in the City of London. Dutch Railways operates MerseyRail in Liverpool. Flower shops are well stocked examples of thriving agro-business.

Dutch cultural heritage is on show in every major museum in the United Kingdom. Dutch masters are over the years the focus of special exhibitions. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Netherlands Dance Theatre are regular visitors of the UK. Dutch design, architecture and fashion are gaining a firm foothold in this country. Just look at the calender on this website for all the current cultural events.

It is not surprising that the Dutch community in the United Kingdom has grown fast in the past decades. It is estimated that around 90.000 of my fellow countrymen found a living on this side of the North Sea. For us, Britain is not 'overseas', we feel very much welcome and at home in your country.