The Netherlands Ambassador to Samoa presented his credentials to the Member of the Council of Deputies, Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia on Thursday morning.

Adrianus M.M van der Vorst, who is also the Ambassador for the Kingdom of Netherlands to New Zealand, is a resident of Wellington and is accredited to Samoa. 

Samoa and the Netherlands have enjoyed cordial relations based on shared values of trust and mutual respect for one another since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 13 April 1976, according to a press release issued by Samoa's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The two countries share a common interest in addressing issues in the areas of climate change, disaster resilience, sea-level rise, renewable energy, water, food security, oceans/coastal management and sustainable development. They also continue to collaborate on matters of mutual interests at the United Nations, reaffirming their commitment to collective cooperation in pursuit of common goals for a better world.

Le Mamea said Mr van der Vorst’s appointment as Ambassador of the Netherlands to Samoa will no doubt provide further opportunities for collaboration on matters of mutual interest to promote and strengthen bilateral relations between Samoa and the Netherlands.  

Ambassador van der Vorst was accompanied to the presentation of Credentials by the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Samoa, Taimalie Ernest Betham and his spouse.

Ambassador van der Vorst graduated from Leiden University with a Master's in Public Administration focused on International Affairs and Communications. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands in 1997 and held various Senior posts. He was posted at Netherlands Diplomatic Missions as Deputy Head of Mission in Albania, Nigeria and later as the Deputy Head of Mission in Ramallah, West Bank. 

Mr. van der Vorst was also posted as the Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands to San Francisco, California and as Consul General in Atlanta, Georgia in the U.S.A. His posting to Wellington, New Zealand with cross accreditation to Samoa.