Muscat – Oman and the Netherlands concluded year-long celebrations marking 400 years of maritime contact at a ceremony in Muscat on Sunday. The event was held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Foreign Ministry, and organised by the Embassy of the Netherlands in cooperation with the ministry.

The ceremony highlighted centuries of trade, navigation and cultural exchange that have shaped relations between the two countries. In his remarks,

Harthy underlined the depth of historic maritime ties and noted the continued expansion of cooperation across several sectors.

Maartje Peters, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Oman, reviewed the origins of the relationship, recalling the arrival of the first Dutch ship in Muscat in 1624. She said this early contact laid the foundation for sustained cooperation that continues today.

The event was attended by officials, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps. It follows a year of activities organised by the embassy to commemorate the milestone.

Bilateral relations received fresh momentum in April when His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik paid a state visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander. The visit reaffirmed more than four centuries of engagement, evolving from maritime exchange into a broad partnership grounded in trade, dialogue and shared interests.

During the visit, His Majesty met King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Dick Schoof for talks covering bilateral and international issues. Both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation, particularly through government-to-government engagement and business partnerships to support economic growth and innovation.

Several agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed during the visit, establishing frameworks for collaboration across multiple fields.