Summer Briefings
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy issues shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today: Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten — the Netherlands' first D66 prime minister, the country's youngest-ever
A historic decision has shaken the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Member states have voted to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan from office over allegations of sexual misconduct, ending the tenure of one of the world's most influential international prosecutors. But what happens next? Khan has already
China
After visits by Food Security Minister Silvio Erkens and Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Dutch government is preparing for more cabinet-level engagement with China. A visit by Prime Minister Rob Jetten could follow as early as this autumn or in spring 2027, according to sources familiar with the
Middle East
Rotterdam mayor Carola Schouten says she understands concerns about the participation of Israel’s ambassador at a Holocaust commemoration next week, a position that has fuelled an increasingly heated political debate. Left-wing parties in the city council are questioning the ambassador’s role at the Loods 24 remembrance ceremony,
Middle East
As violence between the United States and Iran flares up again, the Dutch government is increasingly concerned about the deteriorating situation. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen says the crisis is worsening and warns that the consequences could be felt far beyond the region. What could it mean for energy prices,
Africa
For more than a year, the Dutch government has been deploying every diplomatic tool at its disposal to bring convicted drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers — better known as “Bolle Jos” — back to the Netherlands. Direct talks with Sierra Leone have yielded little. Attempts to rally European support for financial pressure have
Dutch politics
The Netherlands built its reputation on world-class infrastructure. Now one of the country’s most important motorway bridges is becoming a symbol of a much larger problem. The sudden closure of the Merwede Bridge to heavy trucks has done more than disrupt freight traffic. It has reignited an uncomfortable
Middle East
From 22 September 2026, goods originating from Israeli settlements in territories occupied by Israel will no longer be allowed onto the Dutch market. The ban reaches far beyond imports alone and could have consequences for Dutch companies operating elsewhere in Europe. But what exactly will the new Dutch sanctions prohibit?
Asia & Australia
The Netherlands is stepping up its engagement in one of the world's most strategically important regions. Dutch Foreign Minister Berendsen is travelling to the Philippines this week for high-level talks with Asian counterparts, at the ASEAN Summit. Beyond the official agenda, the visit offers fresh clues about
The latest on foreign policy, defence and politics from The Hague.
More than eleven years after the Dutch airstrike on an ISIS car-bomb factory in the Iraqi city of Hawija, the Dutch government has definitively ruled out individual financial compensation for victims. Despite a motion adopted by parliament and submitted by PRO MP Kati Piri (formerly GroenLinks-PvdA), Defence Minister
The future of a major Dutch-Belgian naval procurement programme is in doubt. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has warned that Belgium may seek alternative suppliers for its next-generation frigates after costs reportedly doubled and delivery schedules slipped by years. The move raises fresh questions about the future of
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy dossiers shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today, we focus on a company that has become far more than a technology giant: ASML. The Veldhoven-based
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy dossiers shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today: Dilan Yeşilgöz, Defence Minister, VVD leader, Deputy Prime Minister — and one of the most influential figures in Dutch
Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, the Netherlands is still pursuing justice on multiple legal fronts. International courts have increasingly concluded that Russia bears responsibility for the disaster, yet compensation, full accountability and any form of admission
The NATO summit in Ankara was meant to prove that the Alliance remains united as Europe takes on greater military responsibilities and Washington pushes for a gradual transfer of burdens. According to the Dutch government, that objective was achieved. Behind the optimistic rhetoric, however, lies a much larger question: can
As political pressure on the International Criminal Court intensifies from multiple directions, the Dutch government has now taken a clear position in one of the most consequential crises in the Court's history. Ahead of a decisive vote by the ICC's member states on 24 July, The
Was a Curaçao-flagged vessel really involved in a US military operation near the Strait of Hormuz? Authorities in Willemstad are pushing back against reports linking the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the incident, saying the ship in question was not lawfully registered under the Curaçao
The latest polling figures are finally giving Prime Minister Rob Jetten some breathing room. Yet inside The Hague, attention is already shifting to August and September. Which opposition parties will the government turn to in order to secure support for its budget? Will it seek a deal on the left
The death toll is rising at an alarming pace, the World Health Organization fears thousands of infections may still be undetected, and international funding remains under pressure. As the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa escalates, the Dutch government is stepping up its contribution — but health officials warn the crisis could
It remains uncertain whether the Dutch embassy in Juba, South Sudan, will stay open. The prospect of closure has raised concerns in the Dutch House of Representatives and among humanitarian organizations due to the deteriorating situation in South Sudan. New parliamentary answers reveal that the government is, for now, sticking
A new offensive from Washington against the International Criminal Court is triggering growing alarm in both The Hague and Brussels. As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses the ICC and its supporters of waging a “war” against America, Dutch and European officials are responding with increasingly sharp language of
