As a relatively small country, the Netherlands generally pursues its foreign policy interests within the framework of multilateral organizations. Treaties are always signed, negotiated or acceded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, after which a depository declaration indicates validity for its European territory (the country the Netherlands except the Caribbean Netherlands), Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and/or the Caribbean Netherlands.

The Netherlands is an active participant in the United Nations system as well as other multilateral organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Monetary Fund.

The Netherlands is one of the founding members of what today is the European Union. It was one of the first countries to start European integration, through the Benelux in 1944 and the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952. Being a small country with a history of neutrality it was the host country for the important Maastricht Treaty and Amsterdam Treaty and is the seat of the International Court of Justice.

The Netherlands is a member of:^[1]