By a Correspondent
The Netherlands is set to close its embassy in Harare as part of a restructuring of its diplomatic network, with Dutch interests in Zimbabwe and other affected countries to be handled by missions in neighbouring states.
The closure was announced by the Dutch government as part of changes to its worldwide network of embassies and consulates.
The Netherlands said the embassy in Harare would be among several diplomatic missions being closed, alongside embassies in Tripoli, Bujumbura and Yangon, as well as the consulate-general in Rio de Janeiro.
“Due to the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, the planned closure of the embassy in Juba has also been reversed,” the Dutch government said, adding that the Harare mission would nevertheless be closed.
“Dutch interests in these countries will be promoted by embassies in neighbouring countries,” the government said.
The decision forms part of a broader review of the Netherlands’ diplomatic network in response to changing geopolitical and economic priorities.
Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Berendsen said the government was allocating €35 million to strengthen its worldwide network, including opening new embassies and investing in existing missions.
The Netherlands currently has 113 embassies and 27 consulates-general worldwide, according to the Dutch government.
The Harare embassy has been responsible for diplomatic and consular services in Zimbabwe and has also played a role in supporting Dutch interests in the wider region.
The embassy’s closure is likely to affect the way Dutch nationals, Zimbabwean businesses, development organisations and other stakeholders engage with the Dutch government.
The Netherlands currently provides a range of consular services through its Harare mission, including passport and identity-document services, document legalisation and certain visa-related services.
For example, Dutch government information currently directs applicants in Zimbabwe to the Harare embassy for certain residence-permit, passport and document services. Schengen visa applications are submitted through the VFS Global application centre in Harare.
The Dutch government has not yet provided a detailed timetable for the closure or outlined how each consular service currently provided in Harare will be handled after the mission shuts down.
The government said the restructuring was intended to ensure that Dutch diplomatic resources are positioned where they can best serve the country’s geopolitical, economic and security interests.
