Asia & Australia
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two‑day visit to The Hague has produced a series of tangible outcomes, spanning geopolitics, economic cooperation, and politically sensitive dossiers. The visit marks a clear step forward in deepening ties between the Netherlands and India, signalling a shift toward a broader and more
Middle East
A sharp public exchange has erupted between Israel's ambassador to the Netherlands, Zvi Aviner Vapni, and Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema following her remarks marking the annual commemoration of the Nakba.
Dutch politics
Leiden University is returning two historic copper plates, known as the Chola Plates, to India. The university’s executive board took the decision following advice from the Dutch Committee on Colonial Collections, which concluded that the objects had been removed from India without consent during the colonial period. The plates
Middle East
Dutch diplomat and former Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has been appointed Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security at the United Nations. The announcement was made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Asia & Australia
The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to The Hague marks an important moment in the deepening relationship between the Netherlands and India - but a child abduction case has emerged as a major issue in Dutch politics. What can we expect from Modi’s visit?
Ukraine
The Netherlands has taken an important step towards establishing a special tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine. A suitable location has been found in The Hague where the preparatory phase of the so-called aggression tribunal can be housed. This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen.
Europe & EU
The Dutch cabinet expects the next formal step in Ukraine’s accession process to take place in June. At that point, negotiations on the first cluster could begin. The first cluster consists of the chapters covering economic criteria, the functioning of democratic institutions, and public administration reform.
Dutch politics
The timing of Prime Minister Rob Jetten's trip to the Caribbean has raised eyebrows in political circles in The Hague. Over the past week, Jetten visited the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, a tour that, in hindsight, has caused some unease behind the scenes. "This was not
United States & Canada
The Dutch government aims to further deepen trade relations with Canada and views the EU–Canada trade agreement CETA as a strategic success, particularly against the backdrop of international trade tensions.
Dutch politics
In The Hague, the Dutch government has forcefully condemned the violence surrounding asylum reception centres, including recent incidents in Loosdrecht. Yet behind this unified response lies a deeper problem: the coalition of D66, VVD and CDA still lacks a workable solution to the ongoing pressure on the asylum system and
Dutch politics
The Dutch government is increasingly concerned about a new legislative proposal in the United States aimed at further tightening restrictions on the export of chip technology to China - which could also affect Dutch companies such as ASML. The MATCH Act, currently under consideration in the US Congress, seeks to “harmonise”
Caribbean & Latin America
In Latin America, the Netherlands is investing in development projects that aim to combine climate adaptation with economic opportunities, but visible returns have so far been limited, according to a status update report from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. In Colombia, two so‑called combitracks are active,