Europe & EU
For years, Dutch politicians, regional authorities and industry leaders have shared a common concern: what if ASML can no longer grow in the Netherlands? As construction begins on a major new campus near Eindhoven, the answer is becoming clear. From housing and infrastructure to energy and permits, the Dutch state
NATO & Defence
The Dutch government is injecting another €250 million into Ukraine's drone war effort and supplying additional ammunition for Kyiv's F-16 fleet, underscoring The Hague's view that sustained military support remains essential as Russia intensifies aerial attacks. But the new money comes with a
Europe & EU
The funeral of Ratko Mladić has triggered an sharp response from both The Hague and Brussels, reopening painful memories of the Balkan wars and raising fresh questions about Serbia’s future inside the European project. With senior Serbian officials attending the ceremony and signs of official state support, European leaders
Middle East
The Dutch government has defended the Ministry of Defence's most senior civil servant, Maarten Schurink, after right-wing and pro-Israel MP Gidi Markuszower and his colleagues questioned whether his leadership role at a cultural institution boycotting Israeli organisations is compatible with his position at the heart of
Europe & EU
At a time when Europe is grappling with a more assertive Russia, growing pressure on critical infrastructure and mounting economic uncertainty, the Netherlands and Norway are drawing closer together. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre signed a new strategic partnership that goes beyond symbolic
Middle East
For months, Dutch naval vessels waited on standby for a possible international mission to safeguard one of the world's most strategically important waterways. But despite continued military planning, The Hague now appears to be signalling that such an operation is not imminent. The Dutch government has decided to
Europe & EU
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has expressed concern over the far-right AfD's breakthrough victory in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, warning that mainstream politicians must draw lessons from voters' dissatisfaction. His remarks come as Germany grapples with the implications of one of the strongest performances
Ukraine
A senior D66 foreign affairs MP, Hanneke van der Werf, has issued a clarifying statement after saying in a national television talk show that “we” may need to shoot at Russian launch installations ourselves if Ukraine is to survive another winter of Russian bombardment. The remarks quickly drew attention because
China
Dutch minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma used a recent visit to China to directly raise concerns about the treatment of the Uyghur minority, including allegations of forced labour in Xinjiang. The exchanges offer a rare glimpse into how the Dutch government is trying to balance mounting human rights concerns with its desire
NATO & Defence
The Netherlands has welcomed what it describes as a significant breakthrough in international efforts to regulate autonomous weapons systems, after 128 countries reached consensus on a document that could pave the way for future global rules on so-called “killer robots”. The agreement, reached overnight in Geneva under the framework
Middle East
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has once again drawn sharp condemnation from The Hague. In response to parliamentary questions from MPs Hanneke Van der Werf (D66), Maes van Lanschot (CDA) en Kati Piri (PRO), Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said the far-right minister's latest remarks point
Africa
As the United Nations grapples with mounting geopolitical tensions, declining influence and a multi-billion-dollar funding crisis, world leaders will gather in New York this month for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The Dutch government has now unveiled its priorities, ranging from defending the international rules-