Report Dutch Embassy Sale Sparks Debate in Bangkok

[khunjeff]

11 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

More often than not, some doner get rich on the sale, and some doner gets rich renting the new location. 

 

These sales are all to large Thai corporations or developers. No "doners" are involved.

[newbee2022]

16 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

keeping a visible presence in the middle of town.

 

For what ???

[Yellowtail]

4 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

These sales are all to large Thai corporations or developers. No "doners" are involved.

Do you think there is not someone deciding who gets it? 

[ronnie50]

The US embassy owns a huge tract of land along there including the iconic Ambassador's residence. At one time, the US Embassy in Thailand was the largest US foreign Mission in the world (or Asia, I forget). I believe the newer US Embassy in Iraq eclipsed it.

[CallumWK]

14 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

For what ???

 Maybe for when one of their citizens need help. Oh silly me, of course for helping their countries citizen embassies aren't here.

 

They are only here for spending tax payers money, and charging ridiculous fees when you need something

[ronnie50]

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

They are only here for spending tax payers money, and charging ridiculous fees when you need something

Yes. A friend of mine was the head of consular services at a Western embassy (not US), and she was always complaining about staffing shortages. She explained the Consulate side of the Embassy (to serve expat citizen's needs) was the Expenditure side of the house, while the Chancery side (Ambassador and 1st, 2nd secretaries) was the Revenue side of the house..

[Sigmund]

Well all these European countries that have merciless tax rates do need the billions after all to fund Ukraine or the other broke nations within the European Union. No wonder more and more countries are fed up with the dogmatic rules of Bruxelles and wish to get out of the current functioning of the European Union. 

 

The point is not if or if not,  the European Union will break up. The point is,  when,  will it happen. 

[CallumWK]

8 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

the Chancery side (Ambassador and 1st, 2nd secretaries) was the Revenue side of the house..

 

I remember when I sold my property in my home country, and since I lived in Thailand, the notarial act had to be "legalized" by the ambassador.

The fee for that was not much short of a return flight to my country in Europe

[newbee2022]

21 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 Maybe for when one of their citizens need help. Oh silly me, of course for helping their countries citizen embassies aren't here.

 

They are only here for spending tax payers money, and charging ridiculous fees when you need something

Silly you🤗. You don't need a palace with astronomical high maintenance costs but an effective, modern embassy. Maybe in a business center with parking facilities and public transport.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

 

Troll posts and the replies have been removed.

[Packer]

What a beautiful old building.

 

Maybe AN posters can all chip in and buy it for the moderators to work from. 

[Evil Penevil]

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

The US embassy owns a huge tract of land along there including the iconic Ambassador's residence. At one time, the US Embassy in Thailand was the largest US foreign Mission in the world (or Asia, I forget). I believe the newer US Embassy in Iraq eclipsed it.

 

Yes, it was the second-largest in the world when the new annex was completed in 1996.  https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/us-breaks-ground-on-massive-thai-embassy-annex/

 

Today, however, it doesn't even rank among the top 20. U.S. embassies in terms of size.  In fact, the largest embassy in 1996 was Cairo, which now ranks in 20th place.  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/20-largest-us-embassies-world-124339985.html

 

It's unclear, though, whether it's an apples-to-apples comparison between 1996 and 1923.  The top=20 list covers the size of the entire embassy compound, but the 1996 ranking may just be the size of the embassy buildings.

[heja]

I am pleased to see many readers expressing concern about the sale of the Netherlands Embassy.

There is a petition going around, urging the Dutch Government to reconsider this decision and protect this irreplaceable site. If you are also concerned, please sign the petition below to support this cause. You do not need to be Dutch or living in Thailand to sign—this is an issue of shared heritage and global significance. Thank you for signing and sharing. !! 

 

https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/casper_veldkamp_minister_of_foreign_affairs_of_net_dont_sell_the_dutch_embassy_in_bangkok/

[Liverpool Lou]

11 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

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

Er, no, that is not an anachronism.

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Er, no, that is not an anachronism.

Yes, it is

[rudi49jr]

On 6/16/2025 at 3:36 AM, FlorC said:

Other small and unimportant countries

Maybe check your facts first before posting rubbish.

 

The Netherlands may be a small country, but it’s hardly unimportant. For one thing, it’s the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products.  

[Yellowtail]

4 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Maybe check your facts first before posting rubbish.

 

The Netherlands may be a small country, but it’s hardly unimportant. For one thing, it’s the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products.  

Not for long. 

[Yellowtail]

Oh, I spoke too soon, they're already in third place, and much of the they export is effectively transshipped. 

[cmsally]

19 hours ago, John Drake said:

Coming soon.

 

There would never be that much green space.

[Patong2021]

21 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

What history and culture you're talking of?

Exploitation? Slavery? Murder?

 The Dutch did not have  slave activity in Thailand. Nor did they murder people in Thailand. The Dutch presence was with the permission of the ruler of Siam. The Dutch were not colonial occupiers in Thailand and the small Dutch East Indies trading post that was allowed in Ayuthaya in 1608, was restricted to trade. 

 

The embassy is a beautiful greenspace and a haven for songbirds. It is shortsighted to  sell off this land. It never cost Thailand much to purchase. The  cost of entertaining at the Ambassador's residence is still more cost effective than hosting in hotels, and safer too.

 

 

[rudi49jr]

45 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Not for long. 

 

41 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Oh, I spoke too soon, they're already in third place, and much of the they export is effectively transshipped. 

Whatever, dude. Even if The Netherlands were ‘just’ the world’s fifth largest exporter of agricultural products, it would still be quite the accomplishment for such a ‘small and unimportant country’.

[Yellowtail]

30 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Whatever, dude. Even if The Netherlands were ‘just’ the world’s fifth largest exporter of agricultural products, it would still be quite the accomplishment for such a ‘small and unimportant country’.

Whatever homie, I never said The Netherlands was a ‘small and unimportant country’. 

[rudi49jr]

I assume this was the idea of the (then) government of The Netherlands. Like other (far) right wing governments, they decided to cut foreign aid, close down half of the embassies and cut the budget of foreign affairs and the diplomatic corps.

Fortunately, though, that government has recently fallen, and there will be new elections. Hopefully there will be a more moderate and stable government then, and they will cancel the decision to sell that iconic embassy. Fingers crossed.

[Yellowtail]

3 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

I assume this was the idea of the (then) government of The Netherlands. Like other (far) right wing governments, they decided to cut foreign aid, close down half of the embassies and cut the budget of foreign affairs and the diplomatic corps.

Fortunately, though, that government has recently fallen, and there will be new elections. Hopefully there will be a more moderate and stable government then, and they will cancel the decision to sell that iconic embassy. Fingers crossed.

Was the election not over a year ago? 

 

The Netherlands far right-wing government, that's a hoot. 

[rudi49jr]

10 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Was the election not over a year ago? 

 

The Netherlands far right-wing government, that's a hoot. 

The latest election was in November 2023. It took a long time of negotiations to form a government, which was finally installed on July 2 last year. Other than cutting budgets and quarreling endlessly, they accomplished very little to nothing. On June 5, the leader of the biggest party pulled the plug. New election will be at the end of October this year.

[Liverpool Lou]

12 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

17 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Er, no, that is not an anachronism.

Yes, it is

If you say so...but it isn't.

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Actually, my age is the very reason I know more.

Please boy, stop trying to be smart, there are far too many adults, on this forum, willing to put you down.

What happened to you?😳

You got a bad childhood?

Or didn't finish school? Can't believe it.

Or got no education by your parents?

Or got shattered dreams in relationships? Could happen.

Now a desperate leftover? I hope not.

No manners? Obviously.

I'm very much concerned and try to find a reason why you use this derogative style to answer?

Actually it's better for you to look for a fool for that kind of conversation. It's not me.

But if you need help you're free to send me a PM.

Good bye.

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

If you say so...but it isn't.

I'm sure I don't agree with you 

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 The Dutch did not have  slave activity in Thailand. Nor did they murder people in Thailand. The Dutch presence was with the permission of the ruler of Siam. The Dutch were not colonial occupiers in Thailand and the small Dutch East Indies trading post that was allowed in Ayuthaya in 1608, was restricted to trade. 

 

The embassy is a beautiful greenspace and a haven for songbirds. It is shortsighted to  sell off this land. It never cost Thailand much to purchase. The  cost of entertaining at the Ambassador's residence is still more cost effective than hosting in hotels, and safer too.

 

 

You don't need a palace with astronomical high maintenance costs but an effective, modern embassy. Maybe in a business center with parking facilities and public transport.

Also, I didn't mention any connection between Thailand and Netherland but reminded of Netherlands History, which is connected with slavery, exploitation, murder.

[Mike_Hunt]

This building likely doesn't cost the Dutch much money in the grand scheme of things.