Netherlands reverses planned closure of embassy in Juba

The Netherlands has reversed its plan to close its embassy in Juba.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen announced the decision as part of a broader adjustment of the Netherlands’ diplomatic network.

In a statement, the Dutch government said the reversal was made due to the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

The decision comes after the previous Dutch government announced plans to close the embassy as part of a €70 million structural reduction in the budget for the country’s diplomatic network.

The planned closure was reported by Radio Tamazuj and Eye Radio on April, 29, 2025.

The Dutch government is now allocating an additional €35 million to strengthen its network of embassies and consulates.

The money will be used to open new diplomatic missions and invest in existing ones.

Minister Berendsen said the Netherlands needs to regularly adapt its diplomatic network to geopolitical developments and consider where Dutch interests can best be served.

The government has also reversed a decision to close the Dutch consulate-general in Antwerp, Belgium.

It is exploring the possibility of opening embassies in Podgorica, Montenegro, and Windhoek, Namibia, in cooperation with Belgium and Luxembourg.

The Netherlands will also increase its diplomatic presence in Damascus, citing Dutch interests related to migration, security and stability.

However, other planned closures will proceed.

These include the Dutch embassies in Tripoli, Libya; Bujumbura, Burundi; Yangon, Myanmar; and Harare, Zimbabwe, as well as the consulate-general in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Netherlands says its interests in those countries will be managed through embassies in neighbouring countries.

The Netherlands currently has 113 embassies and 27 consulates-general worldwide.