Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands in Makassar Officially Opens, Strengthening Relations in Eastern Indonesia
The Kingdom of the Netherlands officially opened an Honorary Consulate for the Sulawesi region in Makassar on Tuesday (18/8/2026). This strategic move marks a new chapter in strengthening bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Indonesia, particularly in the eastern Indonesia region.
The inauguration was attended directly by the Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Adriaan Palm, as well as the newly appointed Honorary Consul, Osco Olfriady Letunggamu. The series of inauguration events included formal meetings with South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman and Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin, which concluded with a Diplomatic Dinner Reception at the Four Points by Sheraton Makassar.
Deputy Ambassador Adriaan Palm outlined three main priorities for the Netherlands’ presence in Makassar, namely the economic sector, culture, and strengthening people-to-people contact. One of the important breakthroughs announced was the plan to provide a visa-at-your-doorstep service periodically in Makassar.
This service will allow people in Sulawesi to apply for a Dutch visa locally. The initiative is expected to facilitate the mobility of citizens without having to travel far to Jakarta, Bali, or Surabaya.
Regarding economic cooperation, Adriaan emphasised the importance of the EU–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EU–Indonesia CEPA) as a foundation for expanding two-way trade and investment flows. As a note, the Netherlands currently ranks as the eighth-largest investor in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Honorary Consul Osco Olfriady Letunggamu stated that the Consulate will serve as an active bridge connecting Sulawesi’s potential with networks, knowledge, technology, and broader trade, investment, and cooperation opportunities with the Netherlands. In the economic sector, focus will be given to agriculture, as well as energy, maritime, and water. People-to-people relations between Sulawesi and the Netherlands will also be strengthened through higher education cooperation and various cultural activities.