The Netherlands has embassies and consulates in over 90 countries. But it’s expensive to send professional diplomats to all those missions. The Netherlands, like many other countries, often asks locals to look after its interests. They do the work free-of-charge for the “honour”.

Jim Abugattas Simons has been the Dutch honorary consul in the Arequipa, Peru for over four years. He’s a marketing director and is involved in one of the city’s biggest real estate projects.

His work as an honorary consul can be quite intense, especially if he has to help the family members of a Dutch person who dies in Arequipa. But Abugattas says, “it’s an honour and a pleasure to help the Dutch”.