# Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

> Netherlands' ministry responsible for foreign relations

**Wikidata**: [Q1037495](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1037495)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Netherlands))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-of-the-netherlands

## Summary
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands is the Dutch government agency responsible for the country's foreign relations and international policy. Established on March 12, 1798, it operates under the Government of the Netherlands with its primary headquarters in The Hague. The ministry is commonly known by its Dutch name, *Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken* (BuZa), and its short English alias is the Dutch MFA.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Founded on 1798-03-12.
- **Official Names:** *Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken* (Dutch), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands).
- **Aliases:** Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Außenministerium der Niederlande, Niederländisches Außenministerium, オランダ外務省.
- **Short Name:** BuZa.
- **Country:** Netherlands.
- **Parent Organization:** Government of the Netherlands.
- **Headquarters:** 
  - Rijnstraat 8, The Hague (postal code 2515 XP, coordinates 52.08°N, 4.323333°E) since 2017.
  - Previously at Bezuidenhoutseweg 67, The Hague (postal code 2594 AC, coordinates 52.082816388889°N, 4.326629°E) until 2017.
- **Location:** The Hague, Netherlands.
- **Position of Head:** Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- **Has Part:** The office/position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- **Instance Of:** Ministry of the Netherlands; foreign affairs ministry; government agency.
- **Websites:** 
  - Dutch: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-buitenlandse-zaken
  - English: https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-foreign-affairs
- **Social Media:**
  - Twitter: @DutchMFA (verified, account ID 98853413, since 2009-12-23) and @MinBZ (verified, account ID 76604446, since 2009-09-23).
  - Facebook: ministeriebz.
  - Instagram: @minbz.
  - YouTube: ministeriebz (channel ID UCVmGU_zwoRGyZm8sp1XAYaw, since 2008-03-20).
  - Bluesky: @netherlandsmfa.bsky.social and @minbz.bsky.social.
  - Flickr: 78392295@N06 (username ministeriebz).
  - LinkedIn: ministeriebz.
- **Identifiers:**
  - ISNI: 0000000403957297.
  - GND ID: 25044-2 (Kalliope Verbund).
  - ROR ID: 03rx2ty86.
  - GRID ID: grid.480815.0.
  - VIAF ID: 144212923.
  - Freebase ID: /m/028b8j9.
  - IATI Organisation ID: XM-DAC-7.
  - Open Funder Registry Funder ID: 501100007729.
- **Wikipedia:** Title "Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)" available in 17 languages including ar, de, en, es, fr, nl, ru, zh.
- **Commons Category:** Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
- **Organizational Chart:** Available as of September 2025 at a specified Wikimedia Commons file path.
- **YouTube Statistics:** 849,620 viewers/listeners as of 2025-11-23, based on video views.
- **Membership:** Member of the Netherlands Association of Corporate Art Collections.
- **Applies To Jurisdiction:** Netherlands.

## FAQs
**When was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands established?**
It was founded on March 12, 1798, making it one of the older government ministries in the Netherlands with a long history in international diplomacy.

**Where is the ministry headquartered, and has its location changed?**
Its current headquarters is at Rijnstraat 8 in The Hague (postal code 2515 XP), a location it has occupied since 2017. Prior to 2017, its main office was at Bezuidenhoutseweg 67 in The Hague (postal code 2594 AC).

**Who are the current and recent Ministers of Foreign Affairs?**
The current minister, serving since February 23, 2026, is Tom Berendsen. His immediate predecessor was Caspar Veldkamp (July 2, 2024 – August 22, 2025), followed by Sigrid Kaag (May 25, 2021 – July 2, 2024), Stef Blok (March 7, 2018 – May 25, 2021), and Halbe Zijlstra (October 26, 2017 – February 13, 2018).

**What are the official online presences for the ministry?**
The ministry maintains separate official websites in Dutch (rijksoverheid.nl) and English (government.nl). It is active on multiple social media platforms including Twitter (@DutchMFA, @MinBZ), Facebook (ministeriebz), Instagram (@minbz), YouTube (ministeriebz), and Bluesky (@netherlandsmfa.bsky.social, @minbz.bsky.social).

**What international identifiers and registry IDs are associated with the ministry?**
The ministry is registered with numerous global identifiers, including ISNI (0000000403957297), GND (25044-2), ROR (03rx2ty86), GRID (grid.480815.0), VIAF (144212923), and IATI (XM-DAC-7). It also has specific IDs in national libraries and academic databases across several countries.

**Is the ministry part of any larger organizations or associations?**
Yes, it is a member of the Netherlands Association of Corporate Art Collections. It is an organizational part of the Government of the Netherlands and applies its jurisdiction within the country of the Netherlands.

## Why It Matters
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands is the central institution for the nation's diplomacy, international trade, and development cooperation. It formulates and executes Dutch foreign policy, represents the Netherlands in the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and other international bodies. Its work directly impacts global issues like security, human rights, climate change, and sustainable development. By managing bilateral and multilateral relations, it protects Dutch interests abroad, supports Dutch citizens overseas, and contributes to international stability and prosperity. Its long history since 1798 reflects the Netherlands' enduring role as a trading nation and a proponent of international law and multilateralism.

## Notable For
- **Historical Longevity:** Continuously operating as a distinct ministry since 1798, through centuries of geopolitical change.
- **Dual Headquarters Timeline:** Maintained a documented change in primary physical headquarters in 2017, with precise coordinates and addresses recorded for both locations.
- **Multilingual Identity:** Operates under multiple official and common aliases across at least seven languages (Dutch, English, German, French, Japanese, Arabic, Azerbaijani), reflecting its international mandate.
- **Extensive Digital Footprint:** Maintains a verified, multi-platform social media presence across Twitter (two accounts), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky, Flickr, and LinkedIn, with specific account creation dates and platform-specific identifiers.
- **Comprehensive Identifier Portfolio:** Holds a wide array of global and national registry IDs (ISNI, GND, ROR, GRID, VIAF, IATI, etc.), demonstrating its integration into international academic, funding, and library networks.
- **Documented Leadership Chronology:** Provides a publicly verifiable, date-stamped sequence of recent ministerial leadership with precise start and end dates.
- **Structured Transparency:** Publishes an official organizational chart and maintains distinct, language-specific government websites, aligning with Dutch norms of governmental openness.

## Body

### History and Leadership
The ministry was formally established on March 12, 1798. Its leadership is vested in the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position that has been held by several individuals in recent years with documented tenures. Halbe Zijlstra served from October 26, 2017, to February 13, 2018. He was succeeded by Stef Blok (March 7, 2018 – May 25, 2021), then Sigrid Kaag (May 25, 2021 – July 2, 2024), followed by Caspar Veldkamp (July 2, 2024 – August 22, 2025). David van Weel served from September 5, 2025, to February 23, 2026, with Tom Berendsen assuming office on February 23, 2026, as the current incumbent.

### Organizational Structure and Jurisdiction
The ministry is an instance of a *ministry of the Netherlands* and a *foreign affairs ministry*. It is a constituent *government agency* and an *organisational part of a government*. Its immediate parent organization is the *Government of the Netherlands*. The ministry *applies to jurisdiction* within the *Netherlands* and is *located in* The Hague. A key component of its structure is that it *has part(s)* the position of *Minister of Foreign Affairs*, which is the *position held by head of the organization*.

### Physical Locations
The ministry's headquarters has a documented history of relocation. Its current primary headquarters is at **Rijnstraat 8, The Hague, Netherlands** (postal code 2515 XP). The geographic coordinates are approximately 52.08°N latitude, 4.323333°E longitude. This location has been in use *since 2017*. The previous headquarters was at **Bezuidenhoutseweg 67, The Hague, Netherlands** (postal code 2594 AC) with coordinates 52.082816388889°N, 4.326629°E, which was used *until 2017*. Both locations are within the city of The Hague.

### Digital Presence and Communication
The ministry operates a bilingual digital gateway. Its official Dutch-language website is hosted at `https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-buitenlandse-zaken`. The official English-language website is at `https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-foreign-affairs`, which is the referenced source for its English identity.

Its social media ecosystem is extensive and platform-specific:
- **Twitter/X:** Two verified accounts: `@DutchMFA` (account ID 98853413, created 2009-12-23) and `@MinBZ` (account ID 76604446, created 2009-09-23).
- **Facebook:** Profile `ministeriebz`.
- **Instagram:** Account `@minbz`.
- **YouTube:** Channel `ministeriebz` (channel ID `UCVmGU_zwoRGyZm8sp1XAYaw`, created 2008-03-20). As of November 23, 2025, its videos have accumulated 849,620 views.
- **Bluesky:** Two handles: `@netherlandsmfa.bsky.social` (DID `did:plc:4wb3kw3zanzryw6pldxk3lcw`) and `@minbz.bsky.social` (DID `did:plc:xgpiodnhqbmvmqjaweia4t6j`).
- **Flickr:** User ID `78392295@N06` with username `ministeriebz`.
- **LinkedIn:** Company page `ministeriebz`.
- **Google+:** A now-inactive account with ID `103134277154437415044`, historically linked to its YouTube channel.

### Identifiers and Registry Listings
The ministry is cataloged in numerous national and international authority files and registries:
- **Global Identifiers:** ISNI `0000000403957297`; GND ID `25044-2` (also listed as `kalliope_verbund_(gnd)_id`); ROR ID `03rx2ty86`; GRID ID `grid.480815.0`; VIAF ID `144212923`; Freebase ID `/m/028b8j9`.
- **Funding & Development:** IATI Organisation ID `XM-DAC-7`; Open Funder Registry Funder ID `501100007729`.
- **National Library IDs:** 
  - Netherlands: `nl_cr_aut_id` `kn20030724016`.
  - United Kingdom: `libraries_australia_id` `36564855`.
  - United States: `library_of_congress_authority_id` `n50003703`.
  - France: `bibliothèque_nationale_de_france_id` `119860270`.
  - Israel: `national_library_of_israel_j9u_id` `987007265799605171` and legacy ID `000098975`.
  - Luxembourg: `national_library_of_luxembourg_id` `000026777`.
  - Portugal: `national_library_of_portugal_id` `46937`.
  - Spain: `national_library_of_spain_spmabn_id_(bne_v1.0)` `XX118363`.
  - Japan: `cinii_research_id` `1140845216767401984`; `nacsis_cat_author_id` `DA05193240`.
  - Germany: `nukat_id` `n02057827`; `kalliope_verbund_(gnd)_id` `25044-2`.
  - Norway: `rero_id_(legacy)` `A000121162`.
  - Switzerland: `idref_id` `027921336`.
  - Australia: `bibsys_id` `99071348`.
- **Other IDs:** `wikikids_id` `Ministerie_van_Buitenlandse_Zaken_(Nederland)`; `actorenregister_id` `99a92361-2e15-4fa0-a945-9a9308f10a92`; `too_identifier` `ministerie/mnre1013`; `yale_lux_id` `group/353277d8-888e-4c47-8b7e-1c8db8aab686`; `scilit_organization_id` `71007`; `littlesis_organization_id` `217050`; `nla_trove_people_id` `1295309`; `microsoft_academic_id_(discontinued)` `1331531167`.
- **Wikimedia:** `wikipedia_title` "Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)"; `commons_category` "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands"; `on_focus_list_of_wikimedia_project` Govdirectory (as of 2025-06-22).
- **Network:** `ipv6_routing_prefix` `2a01:7c8:1021::/48`.

### Visual Identity and Documentation
The ministry has an official logo available at a specified Wikimedia Commons file path. It has two documented building images: one for the former headquarters (valid until 2017) and a preferred image for the current Rijnstraat 8 headquarters (valid since 2017). An official organizational chart for the ministry is published as a PDF on Wikimedia Commons, with a version dated September 2025.

### Memberships and Affiliations
The ministry is a member of the **Netherlands Association of Corporate Art Collections**. This membership is referenced with a validity date of January 30, 2025, and a link to the association's collection page.

### Wikipedia and Multilingual Presence
The ministry's Wikipedia article exists in 17 languages: Arabic (ar), Azerbaijani (az), Catalan (ca), Commons, Czech (cs), German (de), English (en), Spanish (es), French (fr), West Frisian (fy), Indonesian (id), Italian (it), Dutch (nl), Russian (ru), Thai (th), Ukrainian (uk), and Chinese (zh). Its Wikidata description is "Netherlands' ministry responsible for foreign relations."

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](https://iatiregistry.org/publisher/minbuza_nl)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](https://vbcn.nl/nl/collecties/ministerie-van-buitenlandse-zaken)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Google Knowledge Graph
8. YouTube
9. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2a01:7c8:1021::/48&type=inet6num)
10. [Source](https://www.govdirectory.org/netherlands/)
11. YouTube API