The Dutch state has more than 150 official posts all over the world where the interests of the country and its citizens are represented. These posts include embassies, consulates and consulates general. In addition to these posts, the Netherlands has more than 350 honorary consuls who, as permanent representatives, also represent our interests abroad. Within the official posts, the consulates have fewer powers than the embassies. An important function of a consulate is the issuing of passports.
Services of a consulate
The highest posts are the embassies, followed by the consulates and other representations. A consulate, like an embassy, is an organization that represents a particular country in another country, primarily for the benefit of its own citizens based in that other country, but has more limited powers. The activities of a consulate mainly involve the issuance of travel documents such as passports for citizens of one’s own country established in the other country and visas for citizens of the host country. In addition, a consulate provides various services in the areas of:
- Civil status (marriage, divorce, birth, death)
- Consular declarations
- Assistance with the transportation of remains
- IDs
- Information for companies
- Emergency documents
- Personal law and family law
- Driver’s licenses
- Information about legislation
Consulates also in trading cities and port cities
A consulate falls under the ministry of foreign affairs of the country it represents and is headed by a consul who is a lower rank than an ambassador in charge of an embassy. A consul is not actually a diplomat like an ambassador, but is usually considered one. The powers of consuls are laid down in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). While embassies are almost always located in the capital of a particular country, consulates can also be located in major commercial cities and port cities.
Multiple consulates under one consulate general
In larger countries there may also be several consulates of a particular country located throughout the country, while there may only be one embassy. If there are multiple consulates, they often fall under a so-called consulate general headed by a consul general. For example, the Netherlands has consulates general in the United States in major cities such as Chicago, Miami, New York and San Francisco. The Netherlands also has consulates general in our neighboring countries Belgium and Germany.
No diplomatic mail
Just like the Dutch embassies, the consulates can also be asked for help with problems abroad. Consular assistance can, however, cost money. The Netherlands has an embassy or consulate in almost all countries in the world. However, if there is no diplomatic post in a particular country, help can always be sought from the posts of another EU country that is represented.
Honorary Consul with a large network
A number of smaller consulates in the United States are headed by a consul honorary. A consul-honorary or honorary consul can be an ordinary citizen of the country where the consulate is located and is often appointed because of the large network he has. Such an official is often a businessman who, in addition to his work, promotes the interests of the Netherlands in a specific area.
Advice for businessmen
A consul honorary does not always speak Dutch and is usually not a Dutch citizen. In total, there are more than 350 honorary consuls somewhere abroad who represent our interests. A consul honorary provides diplomatic services, but mainly gives advice to companies and citizens who want to do business in the country he represents. In the Netherlands, for example, a number of honorary consuls of Belgium are located in the cities of Groningen, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Roosendaal, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen, and in Willemstad on Curaçao.
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- Embassy, representation of state and king