Embassy of Sweden, Brussels

Embassy of Sweden, Brussels
LocationBrussels
AddressSweden House, Rue du Luxembourg 3, BE-1000,
Brussels[a]
Coordinates50°50′25″N 4°22′01″E / 50.840283°N 4.367046°E / 50.840283; 4.367046
Opening1837
Closed1 July 2011[1]
Jurisdiction Belgium
 Luxembourg

The Embassy of Sweden, Brussels was the diplomatic mission of Sweden in Brussels between 1837 and 2011. The mission was elevated from legation to embassy in 1956. The embassy in Brussels had a bilateral role, focusing on enhancing Sweden's relations with Belgium. It housed a consular section offering services to Swedish citizens and individuals with Swedish connections. Additionally, the embassy hosted the Swedish Trade Council's office as its trade section. The ambassador's responsibilities included maintaining continuous dialogue with the Belgian government, especially regarding EU affairs, and fostering economic and cultural ties between Belgium and Sweden. Since 2011, a Stockholm-based ambassador has been responsible for the bilateral relations between Sweden and Belgium. In 2020, Sweden opened a consulate general in Brussels with a focus on consular activities.

History

The diplomatic mission in Brussels was established in 1837. From 1869 to 1895, the mission was shared with The Hague, Netherlands, located in the latter city and covering both states.[2] Until 1921, the envoy in Brussels had a dual accreditation in The Hague.[3]

During World War II, the envoy post was vacant between 1942 and 1944.[4][5] From 1 April 1944, Gunnar Hägglöf served as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Belgian government in exile and the Dutch government-in-exile in London.[6] In November of the same year, the Swedish mission in Brussels resumed its operations after Hägglöf returned there from London.[7] The Swedish properties in Belgium were relatively unscathed during the war. The mission and consulate general in Brussels, the consulate general in Antwerp, as well as the Seamen's Church and other Swedish institutions, were undamaged.[8]

In March 1956, an agreement was reached between the Swedish government and the Belgian government to mutually elevate each other's legations to embassies. In connection with this, the Swedish government appointed the then envoy Gunnar Reuterskiöld as ambassador.[9]

During the 2010s, the Swedish embassy in Brussels received the "Entreprise écodynamique" accolade, which was an official recognition and reward for environmental awareness for both public and private companies in the Brussels region. As the only embassy in Brussels, the Swedish embassy was awarded a first star and could then be called - Entreprise écodynamique.[10]

On 22 December 2010, the Reinfeldt cabinet decided to close the embassy in Brussels, along with four other Swedish embassies. According to Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, the decision was a consequence of the Riksdag deciding to cut the grant to the Government Office by SEK 300 million.[11] The embassy closed on 1 July 2011.[1] Since 2011, a Stockholm-based ambassador has been responsible for the bilateral relations between Sweden and Belgium.[12] On 2 November 2020, Sweden opened a consulate general in Brussels. The consulate general's focus is consular activities, including ensuring readiness to assist individuals in crisis or disaster situations.[13]

Tasks and staff

The embassy in Brussels was bilateral and had the task of promoting Sweden's relations with Belgium. The embassy included a consular section that provided services to Swedish citizens as well as to third-country citizens with connections to Sweden. The Swedish Trade Council's office in Brussels was attached to the embassy as a trade section.[14] The ambassador's task was to conduct ongoing dialogue with the Belgian government, particularly on EU matters, and to promote the economic and cultural relations between Belgium and Sweden.[15]

In 2010, the embassy had the following positions: ambassador, ambassador's secretary, counselor and deputy head of mission, trade secretary, a position for economic affairs, EU project exports and trade promotion, a press counselor, a cultural and information officer, a consular officer, a receptionist, a third embassy secretary, an administrative officer, as well as locally employed staff in the form of an administrative assistant, chauffeur, and chauffeur/caretaker.[16]

After the closure of the embassy in the summer of 2011, a consulate was established with the following tasks: issuing temporary passports, delivering regular passports, national identity cards, and driver's licenses issued by authorities in Sweden or a Swedish embassy, name registration and co-ordination numbers (samordningsnummer), life certificates for Swedish citizens, death certificates for Swedish citizens who have passed away in Belgium, certain other certificates, citizenship application, and delivery of residence permit cards.[17]

Buildings

Chancery

In July 1911, the chancery moved to Rue Van Eyck 25 in the municipality of Ixelles south-east of Brussels' city centre.[18] Here it remained until 1915.[19] With the German occupation of Brussels in 1916, the mission moved to Hotel des Indes in The Hague, Netherlands, which was neutral during the war.[20] Here it stayed until 1918[21] before returning to Rue Van Eyck 25 in Brussels in 1919.[22] In 1920, the office moved to Avenue Louise 162 in the southern part of the City of Brussels.[23] It remained there until 1928.[24]

In 1928, the house at Avenue Géo Bernier 13 in Ixelles was acquired by the Swedish state (see section on the residence below).[25] The house served as the chancery and residence until 1960.[26] From 1961 to 1962, the chancery was located at Rue de l'Aurore 2, a few hundred meters away from the residence at Avenue Géo Bernier 13.[27][28] In 1963, the chancery moved to Avenue Louise 148, where it remained for over 35 years, until 1999.[29][30] From 2000 until the closure in 2011, the address was Sweden House, Rue du Luxembourg 3, a few hundred meters from the Royal Palace of Brussels.[31][32]

  • Sweden House, Rue du Luxembourg 3
    Sweden House, Rue du Luxembourg 3

Residence

In 1928, on the initiative of then envoy Gustaf von Dardel, the Swedish state purchased the house at Avenue Géo Bernier 13 in Ixelles. The house was designed in 1913 by the architect Adrien Blomme [fr; nl] as a residence and architectural office for himself and his family. Blomme's family couldn't move in until 1916 due to the First World War.[25]

Blomme, inspired by Italian Renaissance and Andrea Palladio's architecture, designed the house with four floors and a basement. It includes ceramic relief panels on the back, which are replicas of Andrea della Robbia's decorations on Brunelleschi's Ospedale degli Innocenti in Florence. The ground floor façade is made of sandstone while the other floors have yellow plaster with window frames of natural stone. The courtyard façades are of whitewashed brick, and the roofs are covered with slate tiles. At the time of acquisition, renovations were carried out, including the conversion of the architectural firm's office into a banquet hall and the construction of a fireplace with the Swedish national coat of arms. Additionally, a connection was established between the main building and the upper part of the house over the courtyard. The purchase of the property was related to the marriage of the Swedish Princess Astrid to the Belgian Crown Prince Leopold. The residence was intended to better reflect "Sweden's elevated status through marriage", and the princess's parents, Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg, would be able to be housed in a dignified manner. Since then, the property has served as the Swedish ambassador's residence in Brussels.[25]

In 1997, the city of Brussels decided to protect certain parts of the property as cultural heritage. This included the roofs, façades, entrance, hall, staircase, and landing, along with three rooms on the first floor facing the street, as well as the lower gallery at the back. The house is managed by the National Property Board of Sweden, and the tenant is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.[25]

Heads of Mission

Name Period Title Notes Ref
Axel von Wahrendorff 11 September 1837 – 20 May 1851 Chargé d'affaires Dual accreditation to The Hague 2 October 1843 – 30 December 1847. Died in office. [33]
Fredrik Hartvig Anton Ferdinand Baron af Wedel-Jarlsberg 1852–1856 Chargé d'affaires
Carl August Järta 29 July 1856 – 1857 Chargé d'affaires [34]
Carl August Järta 23 October 1857 – 1858 Resident minister Also resident minister in Nassau on 16 januari 1857. [34]
Karl Adalbert von Mansbach 1859–1868 Resident minister [35]
Oluf Stenersen 1869–1870 Resident minister Dual accreditation to The Hague.
Carl Burenstam 13 October 1870 – 1884 Resident minister Dual accreditation to The Hague. [36]
Carl Burenstam 18 April 1884 – 6 September 1895 Minister plenipotentiary Dual accreditation to The Hague. [36]
August Gyldenstolpe 1895–1896 Acting minister plenipotentiary Dual accreditation to The Hague. [37]
August Gyldenstolpe 1896–1899 Minister plenipotentiary Dual accreditation to The Hague. [37]
Herman Wrangel 1900–1904 Envoy Dual accreditation to The Hague. [38]
Gustaf Falkenberg 1905–1908 Envoy and consul general Dual accreditation to The Hague. [39]
Albert Ehrensvärd 17 juni 1908 – 1910 Envoy and consul general Dual accreditation to The Hague. [40]
Fredrik af Klercker 1910–1921 Envoy Dual accreditation to The Hague. [41]
Gustaf von Dardel 1921–1941 Envoy Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City (from 1922). [42][43]
– 1942–1944 – Vacant [4][5]
Gunnar Hägglöf 1 April 1944 – 1945 Envoy To the Belgian government in exile and Dutch government-in-exile. [6][44]
Einar Modig 7 December 1945[b] – 1948 Envoy Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City (29 March 1946 – 1948). [46]
Gunnar Reuterskiöld 1948–1956 Envoy Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [47]
Gunnar Reuterskiöld 2 March 1956 – 1956 Ambassadör Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [48]
Hugo Wistrand 1956–1961 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [27]
Stig Unger 1961–1965 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [49]
Tage Grönwall 1965–1969 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [50]
Tord Göransson 1969–1976 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [51]
Lars von Celsing 1976–1979 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [52]
Jean-Jacques von Dardel 1979–1984 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [53]
Kaj Sundberg 1984–1989 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [54]
Henrik Liljegren 1989–1992 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. [55]
Göran Berg 1992–1998 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City (until 1995). [56]
Anders Oljelund 1998–2003 Ambassador [57]
Herman af Trolle 2003–2007 Ambassador [58]
Magnus Robach 2007–2011 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City (from 2010). [32][59]
Ulrika Sundberg 2011–2014 Ambassador
Maria Christina Lundqvist 2014–2016 Ambassador
Annika Hahn-Englund 2016–2021 Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. Based in Stockholm. [60]
Annika Molin Hellgren 2021–present Ambassador Dual accreditation to Luxembourg City. Based in Stockholm. [61]

Footnotes

  1. ^ The address when the embassy closed in 2011.
  2. ^ Assumed office on 1 April 1946.[45]

References

  1. ^ a b Nordebo, Peter (2011-05-06). "Upprop mot stängning av ambassad" [Protest against the closure of the embassy]. Publikt (in Swedish). Brussels. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Beskickningen Bryssel (1837 – )" [Diplomatic mission in Brussels (1837 – )] (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Flera sändebudsutnämningar äro omedelbart förestående. Minister Westman till Haag" [Several ambassadorial appointments are imminent. Minister Westman to The Hague.]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1921-01-16. p. 3. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender för året 1942 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1942. p. 234.
  5. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1944 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1944. p. 257.
  6. ^ a b "Gunnar Hägglöf minister för Holland och Belgien" [Gunnar Hägglöf, Minister for the Netherlands and Belgium.]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1944-03-26. p. A7. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Minister Hägglöf nu i Bryssel" [Minister Hägglöf is now in Brussels]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1944-11-08. p. 3. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  8. ^ Aurén, Sven "Griggs" (1944-11-17). "Belgiensvenskarna äro välbehållna" [The Swedish-Belgians are safe and sound]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). London. p. 6A. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Nya ambassadörer" [New ambassadors]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1956-03-03. p. 4A. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Ambassaden prisad för sitt miljöarbete" [The embassy was praised for its environmental work] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Brussels. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Sverige stänger fem ambassader" [Sweden closes five embassies] (Press release) (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 22 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Belgien" [Belgium] (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Välkommen till Sveriges generalkonsulat i Bryssel" [Welcome to the Swedish Consulate General in Brussels] (in Swedish). Consulate General of Sweden, Brussels. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Om ambassaden" [About the embassy] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Brussels. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Svensk representation och konsulär service" [Swedish representation and consular service] (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Kansliet för Stockholmsbaserade sändebud (UD KSS). Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Ambassadens personal" [Embassy staff] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Brussels. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Konsulär servicenivå i Bryssel" [The consular service level in Brussels] (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Kansliet för Stockholmsbaserade sändebud (UD KSS). Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Svenska beskickningens i Bryssel". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). No. 197. 1911-07-25. p. 3. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  19. ^ Sveriges statskalender för år 1915 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1915. p. 168.
  20. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1916 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1916. pp. 173–174.
  21. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1918 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell. 1918. pp. 184–185.
  22. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1919 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell. 1919. p. 166.
  23. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1920 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell. 1920. p. 171.
  24. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1928 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell. 1928. p. 184.
  25. ^ a b c d "Sveriges ambassadörsresidens i Bryssel, Belgien" (in Swedish). National Property Board of Sweden. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  26. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1960 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1960. p. 302.
  27. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1956 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1956. p. 311.
  28. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1962 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1962. p. 297.
  29. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1963 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1963. p. 301.
  30. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (1999). Sveriges statskalender 1999 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes. p. 174. ISBN 91-38-31445-2. SELIBR 3682778.
  31. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (2000). Sveriges statskalender 2000 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes. p. 170. ISBN 91-38-31692-7. SELIBR 8261600.
  32. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender 2010 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedts Juridik AB/Fritzes. 2010. p. 175. ISBN 978-91-38-32520-9. SELIBR 11846164.
  33. ^ "Von Wahrendorff nr 2186". www.adelsvapen.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  34. ^ a b "Hierta nr 250". www.adelsvapen.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  35. ^ Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1912). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi (in Swedish). Vol. 17 (Ny, rev. och rikt ill. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. p. 812. SELIBR 8072220.
  36. ^ a b Jacobson, Gr. (1926). "Carl J R Burenstam". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 17. National Archives of Sweden. p. 740. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  37. ^ a b "Gyldenstolpe, släkt". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 17. National Archives of Sweden. 1967–1969. p. 507. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  38. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1904 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1903. p. 100.
  39. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1908 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1908. p. 100.
  40. ^ Hildebrand, Bengt; Lindberg, Folke (1949). "Johan Jakob Albert Ehrensvärd". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 12. National Archives of Sweden. p. 496. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  41. ^ Vem var det?: biografier över bortgångna svenska män och kvinnor samt kronologisk förteckning över skilda ämbetens och tjänsters innehavare [Who was it?: biographies of deceased Swedish men and women and chronological list of different office and services holders] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. 1944. p. 104. SELIBR 8079633.
  42. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1941 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1941. p. 228.
  43. ^ Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1962). Vem är vem? [Who's Who?] (in Swedish). Vol. 1, Stor–Stockholm (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem är vem bokförlag. p. 279. SELIBR 53509.
  44. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1945 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1945. pp. 263, 266.
  45. ^ "Envoyén Einar Modin". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1946-03-05. p. A5. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  46. ^ Rockberger, Nicolaus (1985–1987). "Einar Modig". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 25. National Archives of Sweden. p. 600. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  47. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1956 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1956. p. 314.
  48. ^ "Ambassadör". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1956-03-04. p. 4A. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  49. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1965 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1965. p. 316.
  50. ^ Sköldenberg, Bengt, ed. (1969). Sveriges statskalender 1969 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. p. 338. SELIBR 3682754.
  51. ^ Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1992). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1993 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1993] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 413. ISBN 91-1-914072-X. SELIBR 8261513.
  52. ^ Salander Mortensen, Jill, ed. (1996). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1997 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1997] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 209. ISBN 91-1-960852-7. SELIBR 3681533.
  53. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (1984). Sveriges statskalender 1984 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Liber. p. 344. ISBN 91-38-90400-4. SELIBR 3682782.
  54. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (1989). Sveriges statskalender 1989 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Allmänna. p. 360. ISBN 9138121735. SELIBR 3682768.
  55. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (1992). Sveriges statskalender 1992 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Allmänna. p. 347. ISBN 913812694X. SELIBR 3682771.
  56. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (1998). Sveriges statskalender 1998 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes. p. 172. ISBN 9138313111. SELIBR 3682777.
  57. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (2003). Sveriges statskalender 2003 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes. p. 166. ISBN 91-38-32045-2. SELIBR 8869747.
  58. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (2007). Sveriges statskalender 2007 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedts Juridik AB/Fritzes. p. 169. ISBN 9138323583. SELIBR 10414913.
  59. ^ "Stängning av ambassaden i Luxemburg" (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Brussels. 4 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  60. ^ "Ny ambassadör i Belgien och Luxemburg" (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  61. ^ "Ny ambassadör i Belgien och Luxemburg" (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
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