Ambassador Wouter Plomp in the typical red soil of Cyprus where potatoes are grown.

Cyprus is the most south-eastern EU member state and is almost in the Middle East. It has good contacts with countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. Cyprus' network and knowledge of that region are very valuable to the EU, and to the Netherlands, in times of crisis. 

In 2026, Cyprus will hold the EU presidency. One of the important themes during their presidency will be the bridging function between the EU and the Middle East. This will also be addressed during the state visit. 

'The Cypriot President visited the Netherlands last year and subsequently invited the Royal Couple to Cyprus. The Netherlands responded immediately and positively, recognising it as a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship. A key reason for this is the assistance Cyprus has provided in evacuating Dutch citizens from dangerous areas. With tensions rising in the Middle East, the need for such help has unfortunately increased.

For instance, Cyprus assisted the Netherlands in repatriating Dutch nationals from Lebanon last year. Cyprus has always been there for the Netherlands in times of crisis. This state visit serves as a means of thanking them for their support and expressing our appreciation. This year, we are also celebrating 20 years of cooperation within the European Union, which makes this occasion even more special to celebrate together.'

'In two days, we will showcase the various ways in which the Netherlands and Cyprus collaborate. A key theme will be security. The Royal Couple will visit the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), an international hub that assists countries with evacuations. During their visit, the Royal Couple will be given a tour and speak with staff members about how they operate in times of crisis.

'The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) is a large command centre with numerous connections to other countries. Cyprus has been assisting with evacuations since 2006, not only for the Netherlands but also for other EU countries, the United States, and Australia.

When the civil war in Sudan broke out in 2023, it quickly became apparent that a mass evacuation was required. My colleague Fieke received a call in the middle of the night asking if she could accommodate a British plane en route from Sudan, which was also carrying Dutch citizens. This is a typical example of how such evacuations operate: you receive the news unexpectedly and must act immediately.

Deputy Ambassador Fieke Huisman (right) at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Cyprus, during the evacuation from Sudan in 2023.

In recent years, the Netherlands has become more professional in handling such emergencies. For example, we now have temporary consular staff – SCOTs – who provide additional support during evacuations. I experienced this firsthand when I was in Pakistan three years ago, just after the fall of Kabul. That was a huge surprise, and we had to improvise at the time. Since then, we have learned a great deal, and the organisation is now much better prepared.'

'The mood is positive! Normally, at the embassy in Nicosia, we work with a small team of five colleagues. However, for preparing a state visit, that simply isn’t enough. At the moment, there are 15 of us here, some of whom have experience with state visits. This extra support was much needed.

Usually, when people think of Cyprus, they imagine sun and warmth, but this year is different. Cyprus is experiencing its coldest winter in 40 years. During the preparations, we had to contend with heavy rain showers. At one archaeological dig, we slipped on the rocks, but fortunately, we managed to find umbrellas at the last minute. This gave us the chance to experience not only sunny weather, but also cold and rainy conditions. That way, we’re prepared for all possible scenarios!'

Ambassador Plomp at the Pierides Museum in Larnaca, Cyprus.

'For me, it is important that we continue to strengthen the relationship between the Netherlands and Cyprus and deepen our understanding of each other. What I am particularly looking forward to is the Cypriot EU presidency in 2026. It would be fantastic if the Netherlands and Cyprus could cooperate even more closely then, particularly in areas such as agriculture. In times of climate change, we have much to learn from one another, especially regarding the measures the EU must take.

There are also plenty of opportunities for collaboration on migration. Around 20 Dutch migration professionals are working through Frontex in Cyprus, and I certainly see potential for further cooperation in this area. The state visit is an important step, but the most crucial aspect will come after that: continued cooperation and mutual strengthening.'