Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Downsizes, Raising Questions About Diplomatic Ambitions
The Dutch embassy in Bangkok has relocated from its historic site on Wireless Road, where it had been for a century, to Dusit Central Park, a mixed-use area across from Lumpini Park, signaling a reduction in its diplomatic footprint. This shift comes after the UK's sale of its embassy on the same road for £420m (€490m) in 2018 during Boris Johnson's administration. The Netherlands has maintained a presence in Thailand for 400 years, dating back to the early 17th century. Annelie Langarak of De Telegraaf reported that the departing ambassador expressed regret regarding the relocation. The new embassy plans to use external venues for significant events, raising concerns about diplomatic accessibility and illustrating a decrease in ambition compared to France and Australia, which have invested in new facilities.
Key facts
- Dutch embassy in Bangkok relocated to Dusit Central Park, opposite Lumpini Park.
- The move occurred earlier this month, ending the embassy's century-old presence on Wireless Road.
- The UK sold its Bangkok embassy in 2018 for £420m (€490m) during Boris Johnson's time as foreign minister.
- Dutch ships first arrived in Siam in the early 17th century, marking 400 years of presence.
- Outgoing ambassador expressed 'pain in his heart' over the move, per Annelie Langarak of De Telegraaf.
- Annelie Langarak is a longstanding member of the Dutch expat community in Thailand.
- Germany's Deutsches Haus in Ho Chi Minh City is a skyscraper shared with Siemens, BASF, and Merck.
- The new embassy will need to hire ballrooms or conference rooms for large events.
Entities
Institutions
- Dutch embassy
- UK embassy
- US embassy
- Swiss embassy
- Japanese embassy
- French embassy
- Portuguese embassy
- Australian embassy
- German consulate-general
- De Telegraaf
- Monocle
- Dusit Central Park
- Central Embassy
- Deutsches Haus
- Siemens
- BASF
- Merck
Locations
- Bangkok
- Thailand
- Wireless Road
- Lumpini Park
- Siam
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Vietnam
- Jakarta
- Hanoi
- Netherlands
- UK
- Germany
- France
- Australia
Sources
- Monocle —