Report Dutch Embassy Sale Sparks Debate in Bangkok

[webfact]

Dutch Embassy Bangkok. File photo.

 

The Dutch Association in Thailand is taking action against a plan to sell the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok. The embassy, located on the prestigious 206 Wireless Road, faces potential sale to local developers as part of a Dutch government cost-cutting initiative. Willem Pentermann, chairman of the association, discovered the plan from De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper.

 

Negotiations are reportedly in progress concerning the sale of the embassy's property, which is owned by the Dutch government and managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "This is part of a broader government effort to reduce costs, and the Ministry's budget will see significant cuts," expressed Pentermann. The decision to assess the sale of the Bangkok embassy was confirmed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp, stating that transparency is paramount.

 

Attempts to obtain comments from Remco van Wijngaarden, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Thailand, were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the embassy's communications officer, Wiet Brikkenaar van Dijk, declined to comment but promised future updates. In response, the Dutch Association has addressed a letter to Minister Veldkamp, pleading for a reassessment of the potential sale and has shared it with Dutch government leaders and the Treasury Department. The association has also reached out to King Willem-Alexander for support.

 

Pentermann highlighted that a request has been lodged with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a detailed financial evaluation of the sale. This assessment is crucial for understanding the costs associated with setting up a new diplomatic office and residence in Thailand. Pentermann also met Joop Nijsen, director of the Real Estate Department, to discuss these matters.

 

Alarmed by past mistakes, such as the British government's embassy sale that led to the demolition of historic structures, Pentermann expressed worry over possible terms permitting the demolition of the heritage building. The association fears a clause could be inserted in the contract mandating the removal of the historic building prior to its transfer to developers.

 

Pentermann's views have been echoed in articles published by De Telegraaf and other Dutch media, emphasising the importance of this high-stakes transaction with an estimated value between €450 and €500 million (approximately 17,000,000,000 THB to 20,000,000,000 THB). Monique Kleinnibbelink, a Dutch resident in Bangkok, highlighted the emotional ties to the embassy, recalling events such as King's Day celebrations held there.

 

The embassy's potential sale underlines a significant chapter in Thai-Dutch relations, which began over 420 years ago when the Dutch first explored trade with Thailand. The planned sale of this historic site has a wide-reaching impact on these longstanding relations, calling into question the preservation of cultural and historical ties.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-16

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

What a shame.

Forgetting history and culture for a few silverlings.

500 million Euro enough for budget spending of about 8 hours. Budget almost 500 billion.

 

Make way for another mega mall or crazy priced luxury condo tower?

[FlorC]

They are right to sell it and cut costs.

Other small and unimportant countries have much smaller embassy offices.

[Emdog]

lovely building... can some other use be found for it rather than tear down and put up rabbit warrens?

[newbee2022]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Dutch Embassy Bangkok. File photo.

 

The Dutch Association in Thailand is taking action against a plan to sell the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok. The embassy, located on the prestigious 206 Wireless Road, faces potential sale to local developers as part of a Dutch government cost-cutting initiative. Willem Pentermann, chairman of the association, discovered the plan from De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper.

 

Negotiations are reportedly in progress concerning the sale of the embassy's property, which is owned by the Dutch government and managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "This is part of a broader government effort to reduce costs, and the Ministry's budget will see significant cuts," expressed Pentermann. The decision to assess the sale of the Bangkok embassy was confirmed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp, stating that transparency is paramount.

 

Attempts to obtain comments from Remco van Wijngaarden, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Thailand, were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the embassy's communications officer, Wiet Brikkenaar van Dijk, declined to comment but promised future updates. In response, the Dutch Association has addressed a letter to Minister Veldkamp, pleading for a reassessment of the potential sale and has shared it with Dutch government leaders and the Treasury Department. The association has also reached out to King Willem-Alexander for support.

 

Pentermann highlighted that a request has been lodged with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a detailed financial evaluation of the sale. This assessment is crucial for understanding the costs associated with setting up a new diplomatic office and residence in Thailand. Pentermann also met Joop Nijsen, director of the Real Estate Department, to discuss these matters.

 

Alarmed by past mistakes, such as the British government's embassy sale that led to the demolition of historic structures, Pentermann expressed worry over possible terms permitting the demolition of the heritage building. The association fears a clause could be inserted in the contract mandating the removal of the historic building prior to its transfer to developers.

 

Pentermann's views have been echoed in articles published by De Telegraaf and other Dutch media, emphasising the importance of this high-stakes transaction with an estimated value between €450 and €500 million (approximately 17,000,000,000 THB to 20,000,000,000 THB). Monique Kleinnibbelink, a Dutch resident in Bangkok, highlighted the emotional ties to the embassy, recalling events such as King's Day celebrations held there.

 

The embassy's potential sale underlines a significant chapter in Thai-Dutch relations, which began over 420 years ago when the Dutch first explored trade with Thailand. The planned sale of this historic site has a wide-reaching impact on these longstanding relations, calling into question the preservation of cultural and historical ties.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-16

 

 

It's an anachronism anyway that each EU country got its own embassy.

One for all would be sufficient and saves a lot of money. It's a matter of coordination 

[Peterphuket]

That is the problem with the Dutch government, they always have too much money and if it becomes less, they raise taxes again, the Netherlands is one of the countries in the world with the highest taxes.

[mortenaa]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

It's an anachronism anyway that each EU country got its own embassy.

One for all would be sufficient and saves a lot of money. It's a matter of coordination 

anachronism: "a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned."

Now, look up the word "country" ... 

[Thingamabob]

The Dutch embassy site is historically interesting and architecturally beautiful. That doesn't count for much these days I fear. 

[newbee2022]

5 minutes ago, mortenaa said:

anachronism: "a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned."

Now, look up the word "country" ... 

You are sooooo intelligent😂 Bravo🥰 Go on🙏

[CallumWK]

5 hours ago, FlorC said:

They are right to sell it and cut costs.

Other small and unimportant countries have much smaller embassy offices.

 

What would you think about the US selling their Embassy in Bangkok and throw in the chiangmai consulate as well?

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

What a shame.

Forgetting history and culture for a few silverlings.

500 million Euro enough for budget spending of about 8 hours. Budget almost 500 billion.

 

Make way for another mega mall or crazy priced luxury condo tower?

What history and culture you're talking of?

Exploitation? Slavery? Murder?

[newbee2022]

Just now, CallumWK said:

 

What would you think about the US selling their Embassy in Bangkok and throw in the chiangmai consulate as well?

Perfect !!!👍

[roquefort]

3 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

The Dutch embassy site is historically interesting and architecturally beautiful. That doesn't count for much these days I fear. 

Same story as the even more historic British Embassy, which was sold off a few years ago to developers of another desperately-needed shopping mall. The only thing that counts these days is money.

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, roquefort said:

Same story as the even more historic British Embassy, which was sold off a few years ago to developers of another desperately-needed shopping mall. The only thing that counts these days is money.

It's the progressive way

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Peterphuket said:

That is the problem with the Dutch government, they always have too much money and if it becomes less, they raise taxes again, the Netherlands is one of the countries in the world with the highest taxes.

Maybe. But at the end the percentage of levies is important. For

 healthcare, unemployment, taxes aso. Meaning what percentage is left net from gross?

[RamblingOn]

1 hour ago, Peterphuket said:

That is the problem with the Dutch government, they always have too much money and if it becomes less, they raise taxes again, the Netherlands is one of the countries in the world with the highest taxes.

But very good roads and a better health care systems then most countries!!

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, Peterphuket said:

That is the problem with the Dutch government, they always have too much money and if it becomes less, they raise taxes again, the Netherlands is one of the countries in the world with the highest taxes.

All European 🇪🇺 nanny states are taxing you to death 💀. 

 

[FlorC]

47 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

What would you think about the US selling their Embassy in Bangkok and throw in the chiangmai consulate as well?

What has that to do with my post ? Or with the OP ?

[CallumWK]

11 minutes ago, FlorC said:

What has that to do with my post ? Or with the OP ?

 

You don't even remember what you post a few hours earlier?

 

So you advocate that the Dutch sell their embassy, but obviously don't want your almighty MAGA embassy be sold.

 

[Quentin Zen]

money first, worries after I'm dead.   Every embassy should sell and do it all online.   make trillions.  not me, i'll get zero and It will be an inconvenience; however, they will make (not really save) zillions.

 

Trump, sell them all and build the greatest spaceship known to man!!!!!!   Then have us all meet at the local Taco Bell.  

 

win/lose equals win.  

[ExpatOilWorker]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Dutch Embassy Bangkok. File photo.

This is probably where the "Serpent" case was solved.

[Peterphuket]

38 minutes ago, RamblingOn said:

But very good roads and a better health care systems then most countries!!

but virtually unaffordable by now.
one of the reason to flee that country, people there are drowning in rules and laws.

As for infrastructure there are fierce cuts, roads that are needed are not being made, bridges that need maintenance that too is being postponed.

[Stocky]

7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

Make way for another mega mall or crazy priced luxury condo tower?

And the loss of another green space

[Peterphuket]

It is not only income tax that makes the Netherlands unaffordable but also many extra taxes, excise taxes they call it, on important things like energy, more than 50% tax, VAT 21%, the people there are being sucked completely dry.

[josephbloggs]

39 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

All European 🇪🇺 nanny states are taxing you to death 💀. 

And yet they are continually in and around the top of the happiness index each year.

 

https://data.worldhappiness.report/table?_gl=1*fsrbpz*_gcl_au*MjEyMTQ5ODA1NS4xNzUwMDY0MjAx

[CallumWK]

4 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

It is not only income tax that makes the Netherlands unaffordable but also many extra taxes, excise taxes they call it, on important things like energy, more than 50% tax, VAT 21%, the people there are being sucked completely dry.

 

It's a worldwide phenomenon.

[John Drake]

Coming soon.