Netherlands

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The Netherlands is a seafaring nation with a proud history of exploration, and Svalbard was originally discovered by a Dutch the explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596. Dutch exploration in the Arctic region continued, and Dutch nationals have been engaged in industry and commerce in the area since the 16th century, when they were active in whaling and cod-fishing. Present-day involvement includes polar research and the activities of Dutch NGOs and companies including, until recently, Shell.

The Netherlands has several strong areas of interest in the Arctic, both in research and industry. The main concerns of the Netherlands are the impact of climate change, due to its low-lying coastlines, and Arctic cooperation and security. Before Shell moved its headquarters to the UK, Dutch concerns in the Arctic were also related to the future of the oil and gas industry. The Arctic Center for Polar Research in Groningen is an example of the importance that the Dutch place on the region. In 2022, the second Netherlands Scientific Expedition Edgeøya Spitsbergen (SEES) took place. The Netherlands has also been contributing to working groups of the Arctic Council, through for example Wageningen University’s Arctic Marine Litter Project. Furthermore, in 2016 the Dutch appointed their first Arctic Ambassador, Ambassador Kees Rade. Ambassador Rade was replaced by Ambassador Carola van Rijnsoever in 2017. As of October 2022, the Arctic Ambassador of the Netherlands is René van Hell. The Dutch also have an Arctic station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard which is run by the Arctic Centre in Groningen.

This page was updated on 1 August 2022. If we have missed anything, please contact info@thearcticinstitute.org.

Since the 1980s, the Netherlands has pursued a single policy covering both polar regions. According to the Strategy for the Netherlands Polar Programme 2016-2020, “Knowledge about changes in the polar regions and the consequences of these for the Netherlands remains strategically important: the consequences of climate change (locally and in the Netherlands), rises in sea level due to the melting of ice in the polar regions, ocean acidification, the increasing human burden placed on natural resources present there and the potential opening up of new, shorter, shipping lanes are issues that impact on our living environment and the internationally recognised values of the polar regions.”

The Strategy for the Netherlands Polar Programme 2021-2025 builds upon the previous Strategy (2016-2020) and sets out three cornerstones: sustainability, international cooperation and scientific research. The 2021-2025 Strategy is set out along three strands: protecting natural habitats and the environment, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring sustainable economic activity. According to the 2021-2025 Strategy, developments in the Arctic (such as climate change and global warming), have “both direct and indirect consequences for the Netherlands, such as sea-level rise due to the melting polar ice caps, more extreme global weather, changes in biodiversity, new economic opportunities and changing geopolitical relations.”

The Netherlands has been involved in international agreements relating to the Arctic, from being a signatory to the 1920 Svalbard Treaty to being part of the first group granted Observer Status in the Arctic Council. As with most of its foreign policy, the Dutch government prioritizes the rule of international law and the strengthening of multilateral ties with other nations. The Netherlands explicitly believes that UNCLOS is fundamentally important in the maintenance of relations in the region. The Netherlands also believes that in parts of the Arctic that lie beyond state jurisdiction, non-Arctic countries should have a say in decisions on mineral resources. Finally, the role of non-state actors has been important for the Netherlands, both in regards to economic interests such as Shell and NGOs such as Greenpeace, which is headquartered in the Netherlands.

Together with several other parties to the Spitsbergen Treaty, the Netherlands is of the opinion that the Spitsbergen Treaty applies to all maritime zones (territorial sea, fishing zone and continental shelf) around Spitsbergen, and thus that the non-discrimination principle applies to commercial interests such as the mining of minerals and fishing rights.

The Dutch have been involved in the Arctic for centuries, primarily through trade and exploration. With the port of Rotterdam, Greenpeace, and, until recently, Royal Dutch Shell, all playing a role, the Netherlands is still actively involved in the region. As strong proponents of international law, the Netherlands focuses on UNCLOS, the Arctic Council, and the role of international treaties to help maintain peace and stability in the region. The priority for the Dutch at the moment remains in strong research links and building long-term international cooperation in the region.