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BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND THE NETHERLANDS
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands were established on September 10, 1992. Since that time, the two countries have been developing mutually beneficial cooperation, rooted in trust, respect, and a shared commitment to progress.
This cooperation is reflected in regular high-level political contacts, steadily growing trade and economic ties, expanding cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and an increasing number of mutual visits by citizens, including youth and business representatives.
On the international stage, Kazakhstan and the Netherlands actively cooperate within international and regional organizations, including the United Nations (where both countries served as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council in 2017–2018), the OSCE, the OPCW, and others.
The Kazakh side highly appreciates the unwavering support from the Netherlands in strengthening its sovereignty, promoting socio-economic development, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Kingdom’s assistance in overcoming the consequences of the floods in Kazakhstan in 2024.
Key Milestones in Diplomatic Relations
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kazakhstan was opened in the mid-1990s in Almaty.
2000: Opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands in Atyrau.
2002: Opening of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Astana.
2003: Establishment of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Amsterdam.
2005: Upgrade of the Consulate General to a Diplomatic Mission of Kazakhstan.
2007: Reorganization of the Diplomatic Mission into the Embassy of Kazakhstan in The Hague.
Honorary consuls are accredited in both countries.
Current Ambassadors
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the Netherlands: Akan Rakhmetullin (Presidential Decree of Kazakhstan dated December 9, 2025).
The Netherlands’ Ambassador to Kazakhstan: Nico Schermers (since October 6, 2023).
High-Level Contacts
Kazakhstan’s President visited the Netherlands several times in the 1990s, made an official visit in 2002, and participated in the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague. In July 2023, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Mark Rutte held a telephone conversation.
The first visit by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister to the Netherlands took place in 2019; the Dutch Prime Minister visited Kazakhstan three times (2010, 2015, and 2024).
Leaders from both countries have also met on multiple occasions at international forums.
MFA-Level Contacts
Foreign ministers from both sides conducted official visits to The Hague and Astana in June 2009 and February 2014, respectively.
The ministers regularly meet at international platforms such as the OSCE Ministerial Council, the UN General Assembly, and the Conference on Disarmament. They also maintain direct communication, including a phone conversation in April 2024 between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot.
Inter-Parliamentary Interaction
Kazakhstani delegations visiting the Netherlands:
November 2010: Chairman of the Senate Committee on Social and Cultural Issues of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.
May 2015: Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and Special Envoy for Kazakhstan’s bid for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, Kabibulla Dzhakupov.
February 2019: Chairman of the Mazhilis Committee on International Affairs, Defense, and Security met with the President of the Senate of the Netherlands and the Chair of the Committee on International Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands.
In 2024, Kazakhstani MPs visited the Netherlands as part of delegations studying legislative practices.
Dutch delegations visiting Kazakhstan:
September 2012: President of the Senate of the Netherlands, René van der Linden.
Parliamentary groups from both countries participate regularly in sessions of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
In April 2024, a delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, led by Farah Karimi, the Special Representative for Central Asia and a Senator from the Netherlands, visited Kazakhstan to gain a more detailed understanding of the country's experience and to promote deeper cooperation in the areas of climate change, water resource management, expanding access to clean energy, gender issues, and strengthening parliamentary practices.
TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Kazakhstan and the Netherlands have maintained a stable and mutually beneficial economic partnership that has been actively developing for more than three decades, dating back to Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991. The bilateral trade and investment relationship continues to show steady growth, reflecting the strategic importance of cooperation between the two countries.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The main sectors where Kazakhstan and the Netherlands actively collaborate include energy, agriculture, healthcare, and high technology. The Netherlands is Kazakhstan’s largest foreign investor and a key trading partner, helping to diversify Kazakhstan’s economy.
The Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council
An important mechanism for strengthening bilateral ties is the Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council, which brings together leading business representatives from both countries. The Council’s most recent meetings were held in October 2024 in Astana and in January 2025 in The Hague, marking significant steps toward expanding partnerships and implementing large-scale projects.
Trade and Economic Indicators
According to data from the Statistics Committee of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands for January–November 2024 reached $5.2 billion, an increase of 25% compared to the same period in 2023 ($4.1 billion).
Kazakhstan’s exports to the Netherlands for January–November 2024 amounted to $4.8 billion, which is 27% more than in the previous year.
Imports from the Netherlands to Kazakhstan over the same period totaled $400 million.
Kazakhstan’s main export items include oil and petroleum products, ferroalloys, titanium, and titanium-based products. In turn, Kazakhstan imports pharmaceuticals, machinery, high-tech instruments and devices for medical and veterinary use, as well as agricultural products, including flowers, from the Netherlands.
Foreign Direct Investments
The Kingdom of the Netherlands remains the largest investor in Kazakhstan. Despite a global decline in Dutch investment activity due to the pandemic and the current geopolitical and geoeconomic environment, the Netherlands continues to lead among countries investing in Kazakhstan’s economy.
Between 2005 and the second quarter of 2024, total foreign direct investments from the Netherlands into Kazakhstan amounted to $124 billion. Meanwhile, investments from Kazakhstan into the Netherlands over the same period reached $42 billion.
Prospects and Further Development
High-level agreements, including those reached during the Dutch Prime Minister’s working visit to Astana in May 2024, highlight that deepening economic ties between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands remains a strategic priority for both governments. Going forward, particular attention is expected to be given to new joint projects in green energy, agricultural innovation, and the introduction of advanced technologies across various economic sectors.
Education
Education is another key area of bilateral cooperation. In recent years, Kazakhstan’s Embassy and universities have successfully partnered with Wageningen University, the University of Amsterdam, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the University of Twente.
In 2024, special focus was placed on agreements with Erasmus University Medical Center. Over the past year, a dedicated educational program was developed in partnership with Erasmus University for doctoral students from Kazakh medical universities. Furthermore, five agreements were signed with domestic medical universities to enhance work in the field of organ transplantation. On May 10, 2024, an agreement was concluded with the Bolashak International Scholarship Center to prepare 100 PhD students under the program in the coming years.
CULTURAL AND HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION
Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are actively developing cultural and humanitarian cooperation, recognizing and highly valuing each other’s rich cultural traditions. This cooperation has become a vital element in strengthening mutual understanding and trust between the two nations. Cultural exchanges, joint educational initiatives, and projects in the fields of art, tourism, and environmental conservation contribute to building platforms for collaborative creativity and spiritual enrichment. In recent years, the flow of tourists in both directions has shown significant growth. Kazakhstan’s active promotion of its tourism potential at international exhibitions, round tables, and other events has yielded positive results.
Key Areas of Cooperation
Bilateral cultural and humanitarian cooperation spans numerous fields, including art, education, tourism, environmental initiatives, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Kazakhstan and the Netherlands continue to work on expanding cultural dialogue and joint projects, which helps to develop and preserve the unique cultural heritage of both countries.
Key Events in 2024
April: A charity evening was held at the Diligentia theater in The Hague, featuring the neo-folk music ensemble "Sarmad" in support of Kazakhs affected by flooding.
May: - During a visit by the Al-Farabi KazNU delegation to the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, promising projects in education, sociology, sustainable development, and inclusive learning were discussed.
- As part of the working visit of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to Kazakhstan, the "Amsterdam" square in Astana was ceremonially opened. This square was created on a parity basis with "Astana Square" (Astanaplein), which was established in Rotterdam in 2015.
June: In the central park Haagse Bos in The Hague, a symbolic bench was unveiled to mark the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations. This event continued the tradition begun in 2023 with the unveiling of a tulip monument in Astana.
September:
- Kazakhstan’s embassy participated in one of the largest diplomatic cultural events, the Embassy Festival, held in The Hague.
- A Dutch team took part in the 5th World Nomad Games in Astana.
The "Luxury International Art" exhibition in The Hague showcased a capsule collection of modern women’s clothing in a neo-folk style from the Kazakh brand "Aspara."
- During a European tour, the renowned Kazakh dombra player Aitolkyn Toktagan performed in Amsterdam, continuing her tour in various Dutch cities until the end of September 2024.
- As part of efforts to restore the Turanian tiger population and the wildlife of the Ile-Balkhash reserve, two tigers from the Stichting Leeuw predator protection center in the Netherlands were transported to Kazakhstan.
Prospects and Further Development
In the future, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands will continue to grow through new projects in art, education, ecology, and tourism. This will further strengthen ties between the peoples of both countries and contribute to the preservation of cultural traditions.
