Honorary Consul of The Kingdom of the Netherlands – Profile


 The Honorary Consul represents the interests of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Thailand under the responsibility and direction of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. The HC is appointed for a maximum period of five years, which may be extended for another five years.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has two Honorary Consul positions in Thailand:

  • In Phuket, whose territorial jurisdiction covers the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani.
  • In Chiang Mai, whose territorial jurisdiction covers the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Prae, Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai and Uttradit

 

Scope of duties

Honorary Consuls reflect the values of the Netherlands with respect to Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution (Grondwet) and act with integrity. They have a good reputation and are able to facilitate contacts with the authorities in their country. They should also have an in-depth understanding of the local situation and speak the local language or languages, as well as English and Dutch.

In defining the scope of the tasks entrusted to Honorary Consuls, the Netherlands adheres worldwide to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which states that the work Honorary Consuls perform includes providing consular services, assisting with naval and other visits, as well as carrying out tasks in the areas of culture and public information. Honorary Consuls have no political role and are not permitted to carry out political activities.

Honorary Consuls for the Netherlands in Thailand act only at the request of the Embassy in Bangkok.

1.    Consular services


The primary task of the Honorary Consul is to assist Dutch nationals in emergency situations. 
The embassy that asks the Honorary Consul to provide consular assistance in such a situation bears primary responsibility. Honorary Consuls therefore only provide consular assistance at the request of the embassy in Bangkok, as follows:  

  • Assistance in situations in which social consular services are needed, such as hospital admissions, accidents, deaths, missing persons, crises, natural disasters, and prison visits to Dutch nationals detained in the district served by the mission.  
  • Issuing laissez-passers: after obtaining approval from the embassy in Bangkok. 
  • Honorary Consuls do not issue consular certificates (for example ‘certificates of life’) and should refer anyone requesting a consular certificate to Netherlands Worldwide.  If the embassy determines that, due to specific circumstances or local regulations, a certificate can only be issued by an honorary consul, an exception can be made to this rule after consulting with the embassy in Bangkok. 
  • Maintaining contacts with and providing information to the Dutch community.
  • Maintaining contacts with other like-minded (honorary) consuls in the region.
  • Maintaining contacts with relevant local authorities.

2.    Other tasks performed at the request of the embassy

 

  • Monitoring relevant national developments and legal proceedings when Dutch nationals are involved or interests of the Kingdom are at stake. 
  • Representing the Kingdom on national days and at official occasions. 
  • Preparing visitor programmes for staff of the embassy or Kingdom delegations and accompanying the visitors. 
  • Assisting with naval (for honorary consuls in large port cities) and other official visits from the Netherlands
  • Advising and supporting the embassy on aspects of public diplomacy.  
  • Carrying out certain hospitality or entertaining duties (as determined in advance by the embassy). 
  • Visiting embassy projects. The embassy retains responsibility for managing and monitoring such projects. 
  • Carrying out tasks related to crisis management (i.e. being the ‘eyes and ears’ of the principal mission). 

 

Required qualities and skills

 

  • Extensive network in the local community, government, civil society and business; 
  • Good reputation and access to local administrative and political authorities; 
  • Thorough knowledge of local conditions, also in light of any consular assistance required; 
  • The honorary consul is primarily responsible for his/her actions and an honorary consul is expected to be alert and makes sure extra attention is paid to integrity, vulnerabilities and the existence of (the appearance of) conflicts of interest. 
  • Preferably a link with the Netherlands. 
  • In addition to fluency in the Dutch language, good knowledge of the Thai language and  English; 
  • Own source of income (financially independent) and own office; 
  • Empathetic person with strong social and communication skills;
  • The candidate is energetic, has a positive and respectful attitude, and adheres to policies and values of the Netherlands.