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Saudi- Kingdom''s ties with Netherlands go a long way back says envoy
(MENAFN- Arab News) Dutch Ambassador Laurens Westhoff underscored on Monday the strong diplomatic ties between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia which go back a long way.
''The diplomatic relationship is about 143 years old ... It''s just normal that the two countries are benefitting from the strength of long historical ties'' the Dutch envoy said.
In an exclusive interview at his office at the Dutch Embassy inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) Westhoff said it all started in 1872 when a Dutch consulate was established in Jeddah.
First Secretary Fieke Huisman was also present during the interview.
''The consulate assisted pilgrims from the Dutch Indies now Indonesia who came to the Kingdom to perform Haj. The Dutch Indies was under rule of the Netherlands at that time'' he said.
He added that after 1926 when Hejaz became part of Saudi Arabia the Netherlands had close ties with King Abdulaziz.
''At present 8 percent of our population is Muslim or about 1.2 million Dutch nationals. There are also some 600 mosques in the Netherlands so the closeness of the two countries is understandable'' he said.
He added that in various sectors the Netherlands and the Kingdom are in close collaboration.
''We are strong in education. At present there are 566 Saudis studying in various universities in the Netherlands. Currently at least ten Dutch universities have cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia'' he said. The embassy can help Saudi students find their way to more than 2000 courses in English.
He added: ''I am happy that Saudi students go to the Netherlands to study. It''s one way of promoting bilateral Dutch-Saudi relations.''
''It''s also one way for us Dutch to know more about the Kingdom and its people and for Saudis to know more of the Netherlands and its nationals'' he said.
He added that Saudi universities also collaborate with their Dutch counterparts in developing curricula adding that research cooperation is also undertaken between Saudi and Dutch universities.
''The diplomatic relationship is about 143 years old ... It''s just normal that the two countries are benefitting from the strength of long historical ties'' the Dutch envoy said.
In an exclusive interview at his office at the Dutch Embassy inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) Westhoff said it all started in 1872 when a Dutch consulate was established in Jeddah.
First Secretary Fieke Huisman was also present during the interview.
''The consulate assisted pilgrims from the Dutch Indies now Indonesia who came to the Kingdom to perform Haj. The Dutch Indies was under rule of the Netherlands at that time'' he said.
He added that after 1926 when Hejaz became part of Saudi Arabia the Netherlands had close ties with King Abdulaziz.
''At present 8 percent of our population is Muslim or about 1.2 million Dutch nationals. There are also some 600 mosques in the Netherlands so the closeness of the two countries is understandable'' he said.
He added that in various sectors the Netherlands and the Kingdom are in close collaboration.
''We are strong in education. At present there are 566 Saudis studying in various universities in the Netherlands. Currently at least ten Dutch universities have cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia'' he said. The embassy can help Saudi students find their way to more than 2000 courses in English.
He added: ''I am happy that Saudi students go to the Netherlands to study. It''s one way of promoting bilateral Dutch-Saudi relations.''
''It''s also one way for us Dutch to know more about the Kingdom and its people and for Saudis to know more of the Netherlands and its nationals'' he said.
He added that Saudi universities also collaborate with their Dutch counterparts in developing curricula adding that research cooperation is also undertaken between Saudi and Dutch universities.
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