A Dictionary of Dutchness

Buza

Buza is a handy way of shortening the name of the foreign affairs ministry Buitenlandse Zaken. The ministry dates back to 1798 when the first foreign affairs agent was appointed by the government. It now has two ministers – one for foreign affairs and another for development aid – as well as a junior minister who is in charge of European issues. The ministry employs over 2,000 civil servants and has 150 foreign operations outside the Netherlands.