ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº

The Netherlands is a founding member of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ¡ª the World Bank ¡ª and was one of the first countries to receive a World Bank loan after the Second World War. These initial loans helped to rebuild the economy, modernize and expand the Royal Dutch Airlines fleet, and replenish the working capital of the Dutch Reconstruction Bank (Herstelbank). Today, the Netherlands is a member of all five institutions that form the World Bank Group. The Netherlands and the World Bank work with other member governments to finance projects, design policies, and deliver programs to eradicate poverty in the developing world.

The Netherlands desk at the World Bank Paris office works to promote consensus around the international development agenda and build a platform for collaboration between the World Bank Group and the Netherlands. It does this by promoting better understanding of the World Bank Group¡¯s mission and activities and by building relationships with key stakeholders such as government, legislators, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and the media.

It also supports outreach activities, often in collaboration with Dutch partners, such as organizing and supporting conferences, seminars, and other events on development-related topics. The office serves as an entry point for groups in the Netherlands wishing to contact World Bank staff across the world or access the plethora of information the Bank publishes, and it responds to media queries. It also seeks to increase opportunities for collaboration between the Netherlands and the World Bank Group through co-financing, trust funds, and joint analytical work in sectors and regions of mutual interest.

World Bank Governor

The Dutch Finance Minister represents the Netherlands on the , the Bank¡¯s senior decision-making body. The Governors, usually Ministers of Finance or Development, meet twice a year. They have the power to admit and suspend members of the World Bank Group, increase or decrease the authorized capital stock, determine the distribution of the net income of the Bank, and decide on the World Bank Group¡¯s overall strategic direction. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development serves as Alternate Governor for the Netherlands.

To connect with the current governors and alternate governors offices, please refer to .

World Bank Executive Director

The Governor Delegates responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day business of the Netherlands¡¯ interests at the Bank to the Executive Director (ED) for the Netherlands. EDs reside in Washington and normally meet twice a week to decide on borrowing and financial questions, projects, and policies that impact World Bank Group general operations. The Netherlands¡¯ representation on the Boards of IBRD, IFC and MIGA is shared with Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Ukraine;  the Netherlands shares its vote on the IDA board with those same countries except Bulgaria and Romania. 

Shares and Voting Power