Political relations
Bilateral relations between the two countries are good. Minister of Foreign affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković payed a visit to the Netherlands, 29-30th November 2021, in the year in which the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations was also marked. The visit was important for the promotion of political dialogue, thanks to the exchange of views on all relevant topics of mutual interest. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Steff Blok, paid a visit to the Republic of Serbia on 4 November 2019, which was assessed by Serbia as an incentive for further improvement of cooperation.
The first political consultations, at the level of Assistant Minister for Bilateral Cooperation, were held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, in video format, on 14 January 2021. The second political consultations at the level of the Assistant for Bilateral Cooperation are being held in Belgrade, on March 17th, 2022.
Both sides showed the will to establish the practice of regular political consultations.
The Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have had accredited heads of diplomatic missions since 1899, first with headquarters in the neighbouring countries (the Dutch Mission in Bucharest, the Serbian Mission in London), while the Kingdom of the Netherlands already had a consul general in Belgrade in 1891.
Economic relations
Economic relations between the two countries are good and there is an interest in their further improvement. Foreign trade with the Kingdom of the Netherlands is on a constant rise, amounting to 870,98 milion euros in 2021 (exports 376,59 million euros, and imports 494,39 million euros).
The Kingdom of the Netherlands ranks first on the list of countries with the largest investments in Serbia, in the period from 2010 to the first half of 2020, when inflows from investments amounted to 4,153 billion euros. The Netherlands is in the group of top 20 trading partners, both in terms of exports and in terms of imports.
Dutch companies that are the largest investors in the Republic of Serbia are: Heineken, Royal Agrifirm Group, Exlrt d.o.o; VNB Knitting (textile industry, Grdelica), Woody World, Vahali (shipbuilding, Kladovo), Shipyard Kladovo, Roual de Heus (food industry, Šabac), Affidea Diagnostics, Seveplant (food industry, Kula).
Bilateral agreements
There are 21 bilateral agreements in force, the most important of which are as follows:
Agreement on the Consolidation of the Contractual Situation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands (28 February 2002),
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Benelux Countries on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports (21 December 2006; The Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia – International Treaties No. 102/07),
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the Lucrative Activity of Dependent Family Members of Diplomatic and Consular Missions (7 June 2010; The Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia – International Treaties No. 12/10),
Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Governments of the Benelux Countries (the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands) on the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the European Community on Readmission of Persons Residing without Authorisation (25 January 2013), and
Agreed Minutes of the Joint Serbian-Dutch Committee for International Road Transport (26 September 2019).
Contact information
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Hague (the Netherlands): http://www.thehague.mfa.gov.rs/.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Belgrade (Serbia): https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/serbia/about-us/embassy-in-belgrade.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia – Department for Europe: tel. 00 381 (0) 11 30 68 274, e-mail: oev@mfa.rs.