Brussels reopens the door to Damascus, and the Netherlands is following carefully

After fifteen years of war, international isolation and a long‑closed embassy, relations between the Netherlands and Syria appear to be cautiously improving. Since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024 and the formation of a Syrian transitional government, Europe - and also the Netherlands - have been exploring new forms of contact with Syria’s new authorities.

On Monday, 11 May 2026, Brussels will host the first EU–Syria High‑Level Political Dialogue. The meeting will bring together representatives of the European Commission and Asaad Hassan al‑Shaibani, foreign minister of Syria’s transitional government.