The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, received this Wednesday the Credentials of diplomat Carmen Gonsalves, accrediting her as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Venezuela.
The credentialing process began last May 18, 2026, when the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested approval for Gonsalves’s appointment, and subsequently, on August 22, Gonsalves presented her Letters of Credence to the Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Félix Plasencia González.
During this high-level meeting, both nations ratified their commitment to strengthening the bilateral agenda and recalled the historic relationship of friendship and constructive exchange between Caracas and The Hague.
A Century-Old Historical Tie:
The ties between the two nations date back to the era of the Gran Colombia, with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation on June 15, 1829. The formal establishment of diplomatic relations took place on May 11, 1920, consolidating a dynamic exchange and continuous cooperation.
With the formal presentation of Letters of Credence, Venezuela and the Netherlands reaffirm their mutual commitment to strengthening their diplomatic and commercial ties based on the principles of respect and shared interests.
The Head of State was accompanied during the ceremony by the Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Félix Plasencia González; and the First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs and Trade and also Deputy Minister for Europe and North America of Venezuela, Oliver Blanco.
On behalf of the official delegation of the Netherlands, the new ambassador was accompanied by a diplomatic delegation, including Gabriel Rodrigo Tapia Stocker, the ambassador’s husband; Quirine van de Linde, Deputy Head of Mission; Jesper Veer, Consul and Head of Administration; and Frigate Commander René Savelsbergh, Defense Attaché for Venezuela and Colombia.