The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Spain calls on candidates to express their interest in the position of Honorary Consul covering the provinces of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The appointment of the current Honorary Consul (HC), Mr Stan Weytjens, expires in December 2025 after almost 13 years of excellent service. 

The Dutch community and interests in Spain are extensive and diverse. In several regions, the embassy works with Honorary Consuls to ensure that Dutch people, wherever they are in Spain, have access to certain services of the Dutch government not too far from their place of residence. These include consular services (especially emergency assistance), contact liaison and trade promotion.

The embassy is looking for a versatile, integer Honorary Consul (HC) who knows the islandgroups  of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Graciosa like no other and has a good local network. As a representative of the Kingdom, it is also important that the HC recognises himself or herself in Dutch standards and values.

She or he represents the interests of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in her or his region and falls under the responsibility and direction of the Dutch embassy in Madrid. HC’s have no diplomatic status and may not represent the Kingdom in diplomatic duties, or use the title ‘Consul’ for any purpose. Integrity is very important for the position. The HC is of impeccable conduct and guards against entanglement of interests in the position of HC and other professional or business interests.

The HC is appointed for a period of up to five years, possibly renewable for another period of up to five years. The position is unpaid except for a fixed annual expense allowance.

She/he performs the following tasks, in close coordination with the embassy staff in Madrid:

• Representation of the Netherlands at official occasions of the authorities and the Corps Consular.
• Consular services to Dutch nationals in emergency situations and detainee visits, if necessary.
• Assisting with embassy staff visits to the region.
• Economic advocacy for Dutch nationals, in line with the embassy's priorities (including sustainability, digitalisation and innovation) and in addition to the embassy's capacity: identifying opportunities, informing on relevant local developments, events, etc. and deploying the economic network for events organised by the embassy in the region.
• Regular coordination with embassy.
• Representation tasks in the context of the embassy's cultural policy.
• Providing information to the embassy on relevant developments (economic, political, agri-food, environmental, social and consular) in the region.

She/he has the following qualities and skills:

• Person with broad interest in and affinity with said duties, with clear connection to the Netherlands and Dutch social values and standards. 
• Person of impeccable conduct, with own source of income (financially independent), who guards against entanglement of interests in the function of HC and other professional or business interests.
• Person who can respond well to new (political-economic) developments relevant to the Netherlands.
• In particular, she/he should have good contacts with the various stakeholders in the region and with the local business community in (at least one of) the sectors relevant to the region.
• Own infrastructure, which means that she/he performs the requested tasks independently and has a room where she/he holds office.
• Very good command of Dutch, Spanish and English.
• A good reputation and access to local administrative and political authorities (without having a distinct political profile yourself).
• Extensive network in local and regional society, especially business (renewable energy; green hydrogen and offshore wind energy. In addition, ports and tech industry). Thorough knowledge of local political and economic conditions and relations with Africa.
• Empathic person with strong social and communication skills, able to work well together and with a good sense of relationships and context.
• Recognises own behaviour in Dutch core values: freedom, equality and solidarity.

Interested candidates can express their interest by sending a short motivation and a CV by email to mad-hr@minbuza.nl before 31 March 2025.

N.B. The selection of the new HC will take into account strengthening diversity in the HC network in Spain. Given the composition of the network, the embassy particularly invites female applicants to apply.

Any questions about the position or the procedure should be addressed by email to mad-hr@minbuza.nl