Interview with H.E. Ambassador Spyros Attas
Interviewing H.E. Ambassador Spyros Attas regarding the upcoming state visit of HM the King and Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Cyprus. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will visit Cyprus on March 4th and 5th, 2025, at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. Caspar Veldkamp, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs will accompany the Royal Couple.
The visit will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in security cooperation, education, culture, and sustainable economic development. There will be meetings with local leaders, discussions on regional security, and visits to cultural or educational institutions. Both countries have been closely linked within the European Union for over 20 years.
The upcoming state visit to Cyprus is highly significant, marking the first-ever visit by a Dutch head of state. “It is a very important visit, both diplomatically and symbolically. The level of relationship between Cyprus and the Netherlands is very good. Of course, there is always room for improvement The most important element in this relationship is that both countries share the same values and principles; both being democratic nations members of the European Union. It will be an excellent opportunity to advance both our bilateral relations and our common goal of promoting peace in Europe and the wider region Ambassador” said Ambassador Spyros Attas.
“Cyprus plays a crucial role as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. We have always enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, excellent relations with our neighbors—Arab countries and Israel—built on mutual respect. Cyprus actively promotes a regional cooperation agenda through institutionalized dialogues with Greece, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and others” Attas concluded.
Humanitarian Aid Delivery via Maritime Route
Cyprus is committed to humanitarian assistance, particularly in times of crisis. One notable initiative was the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza via a maritime route. “Providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza through the Mediterranean was a critical Operation” the ambassador stated. “I would like to publicly thank the Netherlands for its support and participation in this project. At the time, there was no other way to get aid to the Gaza population. This operation underscored Cyprus strategic importance in regional humanitarian and security efforts.”
Cyprus has also played a key role in evacuating foreign nationals from crisis zones. “The Netherlands sees Cyprus as a trustworthy partner and a friend” the ambassador emphasized. “They have cooperated with us in the evacuation of Dutch citizens from Sudan, as they did during similar operations in Lebanon in 2006 and more recently last year.”
“His Majesty’s visit intends to highlight our friendship and collaboration,” Ambassador Attas noted. “There is always the possibility for the Netherlands to continue to collaborate with Cyprus in these efforts. Cyprus contribution to regional stability, humanitarian missions, and evacuation operations remain key pillars of its foreign policy.”
Cyprus-Netherlands Cooperation in Innovative Agriculture
The King’s visit will also concentrate on sustainable economic and environmental development, the use of natural resources, and the very good cooperation that exists between Cyprus and the Netherlands in innovative agriculture methods. “Cyprus cultivates 32 different potato varieties, and interestingly, many of the seeds come from the Netherlands. We import special varieties of potato seeds from the Netherlands, and the produce is then exported to European countries and the United Kingdom”; he explained.
Cultural and Archaeological Cooperation
Another significant area of cooperation is culture and archaeology and the Netherlands, particularly Leiden University, plays a key role in archaeological expeditions in Cyprus. Since 2015, Leiden University has collaborated with the University of Cyprus on excavations at two very important archeological sites from the prehistoric era: the Chalcolithic site of Chlorakas-Palloures near Paphos and the Choiroketia site.
The ambassador also expressed personal enthusiasm for engaging with students. “I always accept invitations to speak and meet with students. Cyprus is not a large country, so every citizen’s perspective matters. That is what we are here for.”
Cyprus Students in the Netherlands
Education is another growing link between the two countries. “There are around 1,000 Cypriot students in the Netherlands, studying in Maastricht, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and the Royal Conservatory, among others.” the ambassador shared. “Traditionally, Cypriot students studied abroad mainly in Greece and the UK, but after Brexit, Netherlands became a popular educational destination among our students due to its high level international programs of studies.”
However, the ambassador acknowledged the challenges Cypriot students face, particularly regarding housing. “The housing problem is significant, and I hope the Dutch government will try to address it. Education is a key sector where a country can project its global footprint, and finding solutions for student housing is important. Students often become lifelong ambassadors for the country they study in.
His Majesty will also meet with Cyprus-Dutch alumni, further strengthening the People to people ties between the two nations.” The division of Cyprus due to foreign occupation – The political prospects for the solution with the Cyprus issue question “Cyprus, is a divided the country due to foreign aggression and occupation. Our efforts aim to reunite the island and its people, based on UN Security Council resolutions and international law. The future of all the people off Cyprus, Greek or Turkish Cypriots can be bright with Cyprus being a member of the European Union. The current foreign occupation that results in the division and violation of the human rights of all Cypriots is a manifest anachronism and needs to be terminated.”
“We rely in that regard on the support of our friends, including the Netherlands, for a principled solution and lasting peace in Cyprus. I need to emphasize, in that regard, that Cyprus follows a very principled and consistent position when it comes to international law violations, irrespective of who is the wrongdoer. We expect others and particularly our partners in the European Union to apply the same principles on Cyprus that they adopt in similar cases elsewhere.”
Tourism increased
Tourism from the Netherlands is around 5,000 per year, consistently growing. It’s an important number when you have a population of less than a 1 million. We have something like 3,2 million tourists visiting Cyprus every year. I am pleased to note that four airline companies operate direct flights from the Netherlands to Cyprus: KLM, Ryanair, Transavia, Touring, Easy Jet.
The good weather, the beautiful scenery, the rich history and culture, the beaches and obviously the food can be a very good incentive to visit Cyprus. The local cuisine is typically Mediterranean. Halloumi is the famous Cyprus cheese, a very distinct product that you can find very easily in every major supermarket in the Netherlands. Cyprus is a very safe and hospitable country ideal for families, particularly during school holidays. The island features scenic mountains with snow cover, offering a contrast to the beaches. “ The Cyprus Tourism office in Amsterdam is doing a very good job and also covers the rest of the Benelux countries like our embassy in The Hague.”
NB- Cyprus will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.The presidency is currently, as of January 2025, held by Poland. Three successive presidencies are known as presidency trios. The current trio is made up of Poland (January–June 2025), Denmark (July–December 2025), and Cyprus (January–June 2026).
