Friday 18 / April / 2025
The Hague: In a manifestation of delight over the Royal visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, and to promote cooperation and partnership between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, Dutch Prime Minister hosted a working lunch.
The event was attended by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his spouse Queen Máxima, at the Dutch government headquarters in The Hague.
His Majesty delivered a speech during the event. It reads as follows:
“Your Majesty,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Thank you for your kind words and warm hospitality.
The Netherlands has a strong reputation in Oman for its commitment to open dialogue, its emphasis on peace, and its pursuit of global understanding. These values resonate deeply with us, as our countries share an outward-looking and inquisitive seafaring past, so it is perhaps unsurprising that these Dutch qualities also lie at the heart of Oman’s cultural identity.
I am delighted to be here with you today, not only to celebrate these shared values but also to explore new opportunities to deepen our relationship even further.
The close ties and partnership between Oman and the Netherlands are built on a shared history of seafaring and commerce, the result is a dynamic strategic partnership, where we align our ambitions and complement each other’s strengths. This collaboration has led to the development of innovative projects that advance our shared goals and interests in logistics, trade, and green manufacturing and it leverages our countries’ respective expertise.
Your Majesty,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Beyond trade and industry, the Netherlands is now well recognized as a valued partner in innovation and education. Currently, an increasing number of Omani students are enrolled in Dutch educational institutions, and we look forward to welcoming Dutch students to pursue their studies at educational institutions in Oman.
As we navigate an evolving global landscape, Oman takes great pride in our close cooperation with the Netherlands in the energy transition. Our joint focus on green hydrogen and our broader ambition to establish energy exchange corridors reflect our mutual commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Oman welcomes Dutch insight, investment, and technology as we pursue this transformation together.
Your Majesty,
Mr. Prime Minister,
The strongest and most enduring bond between our countries is the connection between our peoples. The mutual trust, respect, and admiration between our communities ensure that our friendship will continue to thrive for generations to come. As we continue to champion our common values-justice, multilateralism, and the rule of law-I am confident that we can work together to promote peace and stability on a global scale.
I look forward to strengthening this partnership even further. This visit has provided a valuable opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to dialogue, sustainability, and peace. These principles will empower us to take concrete steps toward achieving our shared objectives.
Please accept my sincere appreciation for your warm welcome and for your unwavering dedication to expanding the Omani Dutch partnership. I look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank You”
On his turn, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands delivered a speech expressing his utmost pleasure and appreciation for the visit of His Majesty the Sultan and his accompanying delegation. He looked forward to working together to explore new avenues of cooperation, and economic and investment partnerships that would achieve mutual benefits for the two friendly countries.
He emphasized that the partnership between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is increasingly shifting toward promising future sectors, such as green hydrogen, water management, and sustainable logistics and mobility, strengthening the partnership for the future in a world growing more turbulent and unstable by the day.
He noted that his country highly appreciates the role played by the Sultanate of Oman in the region and the world as large as a voice of reason and dialogue, affirming that both nations recognize the importance of open dialogue in building a better future for their two friendly peoples. He called for continued efforts toward this goal for the benefit of future generations.
