Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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

The Netherlands is a small country in Western Europe, more than 10 yours away from Korea by plane. Though small, the Netherlands is a powerful country that is not unfamiliar to us.

In our history class, we learn about the history of the Dutch East India Company, which led global trade in the 17th century. During that time, there were two Dutch sailors –Jan Janszn. Weltevree, later know by his Korean name Pak Yon, and Hendrick Hamel – that each drifted to Joseon, the last dynastic kingdom of Korea. In particular, Hamel’s records known as ‘Hamel’s Journal,’ which describe the ways of life and various institutions and customs of Joseon, are famous for introducing Korea to the West for the first time. The Netherlands, known for its windmills and tulips, has also gifted the world with famous artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh, and Mondrian. Moreover, it is the homeland of Guus Hiddink, the legendary football coach who led Korea to the semifinals in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

The Hague is a meaningful city, connected to Korean history, through the efforts of the Martyr Yi Jun, who participated in the Second Hague Peace Conference in 1907, where he sought to publicize Japan’s invasion of the Korean Empire’s sovereignty. Furthermore, the Netherlands is a country that came to Korea’s aid during the Korean War, sending 5,322 troops to help defend our freedom and democracy, making it a country to which we hold deep gratitude.

The Netherlands is a country with a quarter of its land below sea level, a fact reflected in the country’s name, Nederland, which means low land. With their strong pioneering spirit and diligence, the Dutch people have fought against water for centuries, reclaiming land from the sea and turning it into fertile ground. Today, the country leads in industries such as finance, logistics, floriculture, dairy, electronics, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. It is also the world’s sole supplier of EUV lithography equipment, which is essential for advanced semiconductor production, and has established itself as a global leader in cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors and IT. In this respect, the Netherlands presents an image similar to that of Korea, a nation that has overcome repeated external challenges to emerge as one of the world’s top ten economies on the global stage.

Korea and the Netherlands share universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and a norm-based international order. In November 2022, our bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the Dutch Prime Minister’s visit to Korea. In December 2023, the two countries declared a "Semiconductor Alliance" and adopted a joint statement pledging closer cooperation in diplomacy, security, economy, advanced technologies, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Though geographically distant, Korea and the Netherlands have a very special relationship founded on our shared history as well as economic and security cooperation. Our Embassy will continue to make efforts to further deepen bilateral relations in the future so that they can benefit both countries as well as the international community.

The Netherlands is also the birthplace of Hugo Grotius, known as the father of international law, and is home to several international institutions such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We will continue our efforts to ensure that Korea’s national interests are reflected as much as possible within these important organisations.

Moreover, we will faithfully serve as a bridge between our compatriots residing in the Netherlands and our homeland, and we will do our best to ensure the safety and convenience of Koreans visiting the Netherlands.

I hope that you will find as much useful information as possible on our embassy’s website.

Dank u wel. Thank you.