New Dutch Ambassadors to Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Turkey and Venezuela
The Dutch cabinet has approved the appointment of eleven new Dutch ambassadors. The proposal was submitted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Berendsen. The appointments are still subject to the consent of the receiving countries and are expected to take effect this summer.
Among the appointments are six (geo)politically sensitive postings: Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Turkey and Venezuela. For these countries, the cabinet has selected diplomats with extensive international experience, including in the fields of security, human rights and multilateral cooperation.
Russia
Marriët Schuurman will become ambassador to Russia. She has been ambassador to Israel since 2023 and previously held positions including Human Rights Ambassador and Director for Stability and Humanitarian Aid. She also served as NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security. Schuurman has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1997 and has previously been posted in, among other places, Moscow, Sudan and the former Republic of Macedonia.
Ukraine
Roelof van Ees is appointed ambassador to Ukraine. He is currently a flexibly deployable ambassador within the TZ Flexpool. Van Ees previously served as ambassador to Romania and has extensive experience in Eastern Europe and with multilateral dossiers. In the current wartime situation, Kyiv is regarded as one of the Netherlands’ most strategic diplomatic postings.
Iran
Janet Alberda is appointed ambassador to Iran, with a temporary posting in Baku. She is currently ambassador to Iraq and previously served, among other roles, as ambassador to Saudi Arabia and consul-general in Erbil. Alberda joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998 and is considered a Middle East specialist. She studied at the University of Amsterdam and speaks Arabic.
Israel
Stella Grubacic-Ronner will become the new ambassador to Israel. She is currently Director-General for Multilateral Relations, Human Rights and Democracy at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels. Previously, she served as ambassador to Greece, Romania and Croatia, and as EU Ambassador for Gender and Diversity. Her career has been strongly focused on human rights and the democratic rule of law.
Türkiye
Alle Dorhout will become ambassador to Türkiye. He is currently ambassador to Ukraine and previously served as Director of Intelligence at the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). Dorhout earlier worked at the United Nations in New York and served as Chief of Protocol to the King. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and studied Eastern European history in Groningen.
Venezuela
Carmen Gonsalves will become ambassador to Venezuela, a post that is being upgraded to ambassadorial level as relations between the Netherlands and Venezuela have improved. Gonsalves has been chargé d’affaires in Caracas since 2024 and previously served as ambassador to Chile. She has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1989 and has held various policy and leadership positions, including in the areas of cyber policy and European integration. She studied modern history at Leiden University.
Full list of appointments
- Algeria, posting Algiers: Arjan Uilenreef, currently ambassador to Tripoli
- Iran, temporary posting Baku: Janet Alberda, currently ambassador to Baghdad
- Israel, posting Tel Aviv: Stella Grubacic-Ronner, currently DG for Multilateral Relations, Human Rights and Democracy at the EEAS in Brussels
- Kosovo, posting Pristina: Astrid de Vries, currently Head of Department and Cultural Counsellor in London
- Malaysia, posting Kuala Lumpur: Michel Deelen, currently Consul-General in Lagos
- Mozambique, posting Maputo: Lianne Houben, currently ambassador to Bujumbura
- Ukraine, posting Kyiv: Roelof van Ees, currently flexibly deployable ambassador in the TZ Flexpool
- Russia, posting Moscow: Marriët Schuurman, currently ambassador in Tel Aviv
- Thailand, posting Bangkok: Margriet Leemhuis, currently ambassador in Lisbon
- Turkey, posting Ankara: Alle Dorhout, currently ambassador in Kyiv
- United Arab Emirates, posting Abu Dhabi: Emiel de Bont, currently ambassador in Tehran
