The Netherlands has officially recognised Kosovo as an independent state. Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen sent a formal statement to the new Kosovo government informing it of the Dutch decision on Tuesday.

He said the Netherlands is satisfied that the country’s constitution provides sufficient guarantees for its Serbian and other minorities and for their cultural and religious heritage.
Making the announcement, Verhagen said the cabinet had already agreed to the move on Friday and won the support of a parliamentary majority on Tuesday.
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17. Several countries including the US, Britain and Germany, recognised the new state immediately but the Netherlands said it wanted to wait and see how the situation developed.
Verhagen said it was a pity that negotiations with Serbia on the independence of Kosovo had broken down but that succession is now a fact, reports ANP news service.
Recognition of Kosovo is necessary to ensure stability, he is quoted as saying.
Verhagen said on Tuesday that the international civil representative, Dutchman Pieter Feith, has given him positive feedback on the willingness of the Kosovo government to work together with the international community and maintain peace.
Several countries, including Serbia and Russia, remain strongly opposed to the declaration of independence.
According to the NRC, the Dutch government will now look into what form diplomatic ties between Kosovo and the Netherlands should take. It is not yet known whether The Hague will send an ambassador to the new independent state, the paper said.