About us

Our story: A partnership that works

For more than 400 years, the Netherlands and the United States have shared strong bonds of friendship, based on our shared history and values.

One highlight of this enduring connection dates back to 1776, when the Dutch island of St. Eustatius became the first foreign entity to formally recognize American independence by returning the salute of the American brigantine Andrew Doria. Known as "The First Salute," this historic event symbolizes the early ties between our nations.

These ties were further solidified in 1782 with the signing of the Dutch-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, one of the first treaties of its kind for the United States, which established formal diplomatic and economic relations between our two countries.

Today, the Netherlands and the US work closely together around the world to promote peace, justice, and security. The Netherlands is one of America’s oldest allies, and the Dutch people will be forever grateful for the sacrifices Americans made during World War II to guarantee their freedom.

Our economic ties, which promotes trade and sustainability, has created jobs, sound investments, and promising opportunities.

And the ties between our two countries keep growing stronger! Increasingly we connect to find smart solutions to global challenges, such as climate change, food production, connectivity, energy, and health.

The Dutch diplomatic network in the US promotes strong bilateral relations between the United States and the Netherlands, especially in the areas of freedom, sustainability, and innovation.