The ambassador

Claudia Pieterse

Dutch ambassador in Riga

Claudia Pieterse has been ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Latvia since 2021. See the curriculum vitae of ambassador Pieterse on Claudia Pieterse | Ambassadeurs | Rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch).

What motivated you to become the ambassador to Latvia? How has your experience been so far?

I remember seeing the images of the Baltic Way on television as a child. I was ten years old in 1989, but already back then the strength of the Latvian people left a lasting impression. Now, I am honored to be here myself, with the opportunity to learn more about Latvia and foster stronger connections between our nations, building upon our rich historical ties and looking towards a shared future. I have always been interested in other countries, cultures, and people. Being a diplomat is a dream job for me – you get to represent your country, meet interesting people, and establish important political, economic, and cultural ties on behalf of the Netherlands.

The history between the Netherlands and Latvia goes back more than eight hundred years, with Dutch-Latvian trade relations already existing as part of the Hanseatic routes. How would you describe the relationship between the two countries today?

The economic relations between the Netherlands and Latvia remain as strong today as they were centuries ago. Just like in the past, Dutch and Latvian companies know how to find each other. They share a similar business mentality. Dutch companies are active in a wide range of sectors in Latvia, from retail to real estate, from transport to agriculture and wood products, and from port development to hydrogen airplanes. Last spring, we had a sizeable trade delegation from the Netherlands visiting Latvia. Some 15 companies came over to look for Latvian opportunities and partners in the wind energy sector. It was not the first time such a delegation visited, nor the last time.

What has struck you the most about Latvian culture in the past three years?

The musical talents of the Latvian people are absolutely amazing! Every Latvian can sing, dance, or play an instrument. Many can do all three. And all do this so beautifully, there seem to be no exceptions! I had the unique opportunity to witness the Latvian Song and Dance Festival in the summer of 2023.  It was a moving and magical experience to listen to a choir of tens of thousands of Latvian singers, against the background of an orange sunset and the tall dark trees of the biggest park of Riga, Mežaparks.

What are some of the key areas of cooperation between the Netherlands and Latvia? 

Latvia and the Netherlands cooperate in many fields. As described, we are longstanding trade partners. In addition, we are close partners in multilateral organizations like the European Union, the United Nations and NATO. Together, we are also strong supporters of Ukraine and jointly work on defense and security issues. Did you know Dutch defense experts are working at the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and the NATO Force Integration Unit in Latvia? The Netherlands is very committed to ensuring security in the Baltic region. Dutch military troops are part of the NATO eFP battlegroup in Lithuania and our F35s contribute to Baltic Air Policing.

What are some of your favorite places in Latvia?

I have many favorite places in Latvia. The country has countless beautiful towns and castles, but also a very rich nature, with endless beaches and forests. I enjoy traveling around, from hiking and kayaking in the Gauja National Park to admiring Rundāle Palace in Bauska. It is fascinating for me to, along my travels, find so many traces of shared Dutch-Latvian history. You easily stumble upon Dutch carpentry and Delftware throughout Latvia. The historic museum in Liepaja, ‘Madame Hoyer’s House’, for instance was actually started as a guest house by a Dutch lady, Madame Hoyer, who came to Latvia in the 17th century. During its recent renovation, they even found a rare Dutch golden ‘Dukaat’ from those days, another piece of evidence of the historical commercial ties between our countries.