Dutch politics

As Europe honours the ICC, The Hague focuses on surviving Trump sanctions

The International Criminal Court has received yet another powerful display of international support. After a Nobel Peace Prize linked to former ICC judge Navi Pillay and a symbolic reception by King Willem-Alexander, the Hague-based court has now been awarded the European Parliament's 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. But behind the applause, standing ovations and diplomatic declarations, officials in The Hague are focused on a far more urgent question: how to ensure the court can survive when sweeping US sanctions begin to take full effect in six months' time.

Exclusive reporting and analysis from The Hague.
First month €2.50

Start reading

The Hague faces a Facebook dilemma after failed negotiations with Meta

After more than two years of negotiations, the Dutch government has quietly acknowledged that it failed to persuade Meta to address privacy concerns linked to official government Facebook pages. The talks collapsed without agreement, leaving The Hague facing a difficult choice: continue using a platform deemed problematic by privacy experts

Dutch embassy in Cairo closes after days of protests over arrest of Egyptian government-linked figure

The Dutch embassy in Cairo has been closed to the public until further notice after facing nine consecutive days of protests linked to the arrest in the Netherlands of Ahmed Nasser, a prominent representative of Egyptians living abroad. The unusually persistent demonstrations have raised questions in The Hague about the

Why the Netherlands is extending its military mission in South Korea until 2028

The Dutch government has decided to extend its military contribution to the United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea until the end of 2028, underlining a growing Dutch security interest in the Indo-Pacific at a time of rising tensions in East Asia and deepening cooperation between Russia and North

The Netherlands keeps pressure on Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir as EU support for sanctions falls short

The Netherlands is maintaining pressure on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over his latest remarks on Gaza, but Dutch ministers admit there is still too little support in the EU for sanctions. Newly published parliamentary answers offer a glimpse into how The Hague is trying to combine criticism

Read more

The Hague faces a Facebook dilemma after failed negotiations with Meta

Dutch embassy in Cairo closes after days of protests over arrest of Egyptian government-linked figure

Why the Netherlands is extending its military mission in South Korea until 2028

The Netherlands keeps pressure on Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir as EU support for sanctions falls short