Ireland's relationship with the Netherlands
Ireland’s relationship with the Netherlands is one built on collaboration, inspiration, and friendship. We share rich and diverse cultures, and a strong passion for sports – the Dutch sport orange proudly as the Irish put on the green jerseys.
Political relations
The Netherlands has been a strong supporter of the Irish peace process, and we have formed enduring partnerships since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1945.
Today, Ireland and the Netherlands work closely together in the United Nations and in the European Union, as well as bilaterally.
The Netherlands and Ireland are partners in areas such as development cooperation in Africa and offshore renewable energy in the North Sea and Irish Sea. The Irish-Dutch cooperation is future-proofed, with the Dutch ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam and the Irish ports of Cork and Shannon Foynes cooperating on the development and supply of green hydrogen.
Economic ties
Both Ireland and the Netherlands are outward looking maritime countries, valuing open trade and building connections.
The Netherlands is one of Ireland’s closest and most important trading partners, with total trade in goods and services amounting to almost €55 billion, marking steady growth.
The Netherlands is the biggest export market for Irish owned enterprise in the EU, and the third biggest market globally. Ireland exports over €1 billion in food and drinks alone to the Netherlands annually.
Dublin is the third-busiest European route from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and more than 250,000 Dutch tourists visit Ireland each year.
Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland all have a presence in the Netherlands and all work closely with the Embassy as part of Team Ireland.
Historical and cultural links
The heritage of the 17th century Dutch Republic continues to provide fertile ground for present day Irish-Dutch cooperation. Trinity College Dublin and the KB National Library of the Netherlands are collaborating on the cataloguing of the Fagel Collection – one of the largest Dutch private libraries from the 17th and 18th century, purchased by Trinity College Dublin in the early 1800s.
Ireland also inspired Marten Toonder’s comic Oliver B. Bumble and Tom Puss. Toonder moved to Ireland in 1965 and the Irish scenery reminded him of the rolling landscapes he had always drawn in his comics. These are just two examples of the countless ways in which Ireland and the Netherlands continue to inspire each other.
People-to-people connections
St Brigid is not only the female patron saint of Ireland, but also the patron saint of the Dutch village of Noorbeek in Limburg. Ever since a cattle plague broke out in 1634, Noorbeek fetches a fir tree on the second Saturday after Easter to this day as a token of thanks to St. Brigid for sparing the village cattle from the plague.
More contemporary cultural connections exist too and Dutch people show considerable interest in Irish cinema, dance, music and literature. Irish literature is increasingly translated into Dutch, including the poetry of Paula Meehan.
There are many affinities between Irish and Dutch people and friendships between them are warm and close. The Netherlands hosts a vibrant Irish community of approximately 13,000 citizens who actively contribute to the Irish-Dutch friendships and ever-growing Dutch interest in Irish culture.
There are currently seven active GAA clubs spread across the Netherlands with participation by Dutch nationals increasing. The skill of the Dutch hockey players is certainly transferrable to hurling and camogie – prettige wedstrijd!