International Cooperation

Dutch Customs are also represented abroad. Currently, there are four Dutch customs attachés operating in Brasilia, Beijing, Singapore and Moscow. There is also a Customs Cooperation Council headquartered in Brussels, representing Dutch interests in the EU, and a Financial Counsellor in Washington. The latter maintains contact with the IMF and the World Bank and to some extent represents the interests of the Netherlands where customs are concerned. The attachés have a dual role. On the one hand, they serve as contacts within their regions for the exchange of information in international investigations, and on the other hand, they act as a contact for the business community when it comes to dialogue with the Netherlands regarding the role of Dutch Customs in the international movement of goods. As such, they serve as customs control officials and trade facilitators in one.