Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

The Ministry's activities are:
- to maintain relations with other countries and international organisations;
- to promote cooperation with other countries;
- to help developing countries accelerate their social and economic developme nt through international cooperation;
- to promote the interests of Dutch nationals and the Netherlands abroad;
- to collect information on other countries and international developments for the Government and other interested parties;
- to provide information on Dutch policy and the Netherlands' position on international issues and developments;
- to present the Netherlands to the world;
- to deal with applications from and the problems of foreigners living in the Netherlands or seeking to enter or leave the country.

Ministry staff are employed at:
- 111 embassies;
- 27 consulates-general;
- 340 consulates
- 19 permanent representations to international organisations, including the UN, the EU, NATO, the OECD, the OPCW, and the OSCE;
- 3 Embassy Offices (Almaty, Bujumbura and Pristina);
- 1 Joint Donoor Office (Juba);
- 1 Representative Office (Palestinian Authority, Ramallah).