Our ambassador Ard van der Vorst visited the Cook Islands to celebrate sixty years of self-governance. It was an honour to be invited to attend celebrations for this milestone.

Despite being on other sides of our planet, the Netherlands and the Cook Islands have more in common than you might think. Both face rising sea levels and share the commitment toward sustainable futures, protecting our countries. The Netherlands is also a proud supporter of inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights across the Pacific. Our diplomatic ties are growing stronger, and this visit allowed the ambassador to visit many of our important partners and to further expend our network.

A topic of many visits was seabed mining. From the Pacific to the Netherlands, the debate on seabed mining is evolving. The Dutch government’s stance is cautious, research-driven, and conditional. Other visits included meetings with the local Ombudsman Niki Rattle and with Janette Olliver from the Te Tiare Association, the national LGBTQ+ organisation advocating for equality, inclusion, and human rights in the Cook Islands. The rainbow community in Cooks has recently celebrated the historic decriminalisation of same-sex relations, an important milestone, though the journey for full equality of the community in the Pacific region continues.

Over the years the Netherlands is proud to be not only an ally, but also a supporter of this progress through our Human Rights Fund. Together, we discussed oversight, the value of independent institutions, and opportunities to strengthen transparency, accountability, and inclusion for all.