Diplomatic relations between then Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands were established on 13 November 1919.

Diplomatic relations had been suspended from 15 March 1939 until 25 March 1941 due to the Second World War. The Czech Legation restored its activities in the Hague only after it was moved from London on 23 September 1945. By mutual consent, diplomatic relations were upgraded on the level of embassies since 19 October 1964.

Following the dissolution of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Czech Republic has been recognized by the Kingdom of the Netherlands as an independent sovereign state as of 1 January 1993.

In his letter of the same day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Mr. Hans van den Broek, authorized by the Queen, confirmed to his Czech counterpart Minister Zieleniec the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level

Since the creation of the Czech Republic in 1993, numerous visits of Czech and Dutch dignitaries have been effected.

Bellow you can find the most important visits at the level of heads of states, presidents of parliaments, prime ministers and ministers of foreign affairs from 1993 until 2006.

In 1993, then Prime Minister Klaus visited the Netherlands.

Her Majesty the Queen Beatrix came for a state visit to the Czech Republic in March 1994.

The official visit of President Vaclav Havel to the Kingdom of the Netherlands had been effected in 1995. In 1995 prime minister Klaus and Minister of Foreign Affairs Zieleniec visited the Netherlands.

In 1997, Prime Minister Klaus and Minister of Foreign Affairs Zieleniec took part in the debriefing organised by the Dutch presidency within the EU for candidate countries. The Speaker of the Czech Senate Pithart visited the Netherlands in 1997 as well.

In January 2000, the Speaker of the Czech Senate Benesova came to the Netherlands for the working visit and a few days later Prime Minister Zeman came for an official visit of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Van Aartsen visited the Czech Republic in May 2001 followed by Minister of Finance Zalm in the same month.

On October 29, 2002, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs C. Svoboda paid a working visit to the Netherlands.

On November 3 - 5, 2003, President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic P. Pithart visited the Netherlads. Mr. Pithart held talks with President of the Senate of States General and gave a speech during the Czech Day in the Hague.

On February 16 - 17, 2004, Prime Minister J.P. Balkenende paid an official visit to the Czech Republic. During this visit PM J.P. Balkenende met his Czech counterpart PM V. Špidla, president of the Czech Republic V. Klaus, chairman of the House of Representatives of the Czech Parliament L. Zaorálek and President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament P.Pithart. Prime minister Balkenende also met representatives of NGOs and business community.

On November 23, 2004, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic S. Gross visited the Netherlands. During this visit PM S. Gross was received by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, met President of the House of Representatives of the States General F. Weisglas. The main part of the visit included a tete-a-tete with Prime Minister J.P. Balkenende followed by a working dinner.

On March 3 - 5, 2005, President of the House of Representatives of the States General F. Weisglas paid a visit to the Czech Republic.

On November 3, 2005, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands B. Bot visited the Czech Republic.

On June 4, 2007, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic M. Topolánek paid a working visit to Prime Minister J. P. Balkenende.

Photo: Office of the Government of the Czech Republic