THE HAGUE, 24/08/06 - The city council of The Hague and the United States have reached a final agreement on the relocation of the US embassy. The embassy is exchanging its location in the centre of The Hague for one outside the city.

The Hague Mayor Wim Deetman has announced that the Americans gave the green light in July for moving to the site of the present dog-track on the Benoordenhoutseweg. In principle, building will begin in the spring of 2009, for completion in 2011. The date could be earlier if all procedures go smoothly and the US has good luck with its building plans for embassies in other countries, according to Deetman.

The piece of ground where the future US embassy will be built is currently still owned by The Hague municipality, but is located within the boundaries of Wassenaar municipality. Wassenaar had already conditionally approved the advent of the embassy last February. Eventually, the US will become the owner of the ground. The Hague will become the owner of the ground on Lange Voorhout street, where the present embassy building stands. Deetman did not wish to anticipate what he is planning to do with the city-centre location.

The mayor praised Washington's consideration in cooperating on a relocation. In exchange for the commitments by the US, the municipality has agreed to better security measures around the present embassy. A new fence will be built around the building, higher and stronger than the present enclosure, and there will be posts to prevent cars from coming close. The US is paying for the new fence and has according to Deetman promised to remove it when the embassy moves.