Asia & Australia
As international attention shifts elsewhere and donor funding for Afghanistan comes under mounting pressure, the Dutch government is quietly stepping up its engagement. New parliamentary documents show that the Netherlands will become the largest contributor to a key UN humanitarian fund for Afghanistan this year, even as The Hague insists
Russia
The Dutch government has reaffirmed its opposition to the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national flags, following parliamentary questions from D66 MPs Renilde Huizenga and Hanneke van der Werf about the International Olympic Committee's decision to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee under
Middle East
The Dutch government has acknowledged that at least hundreds of Dutch passport holders are serving in the Israeli military, but are any criminal investigations underway into the possible involvement of Dutch nationals in alleged war crimes in Gaza? The issue is politically sensitive in The Hague, raising questions about accountability,
Caribbean & Latin America
Dutch MPs Suzanne Kröger (PRO) and Mpanzu Bamenga (D66) are urging the government to clarify its stance on Argentina after an Amnesty International report alleged a sharp expansion of surveillance powers under President Javier Milei. In a new set of parliamentary questions, lawmakers link concerns over civil liberties and mass
The Netherlands and Spain are pushing for an EU-wide minimum age for social media, submitting a joint proposal to Brussels just days before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to unveil new plans to protect children online. Yet despite growing support for tougher rules across Europe,
Europe & EU
A Dutch court ruling on a single Russian asylum seeker has triggered an unusually broad political backlash in The Hague and raised questions about the European migration and asylum pact. If asylum seekers still cannot be returned to Italy despite new European agreements and assurances from Rome, what does that
Europe & EU
The Netherlands is refusing to back a new step in Serbia’s path towards European Union membership, despite renewed discussions on enlargement at a meeting of EU foreign ministers earlier this month. During talks with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos on the sidelines of the informal Gymnich meeting, Dutch Foreign Minister
Africa
The Dutch government is expanding its response to Sudan's war, pledging additional funding for refugees in Chad and humanitarian aid while arguing that instability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region is increasingly relevant to Europe. Exclusive reporting and analysis from The Hague. First month
Dutch politics
The Dutch prime minister has brushed off revelations that hundreds of social media posts linked to him and D66 were generated with artificial intelligence. But the controversy risks reopening a vulnerability that Rob Jetten has spent years trying to overcome: the perception that he is polished, scripted and not entirely
Africa
Diplomatic tensions between the Netherlands and Sierra Leone have escalated after Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel publicly renewed pressure on Freetown to hand over convicted drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, better known as “Bolle Jos”. What was intended as a push to accelerate years of stalled cooperation has instead triggered
How much will the Netherlands ultimately need to spend to meet NATO's new spending pledge? And what happens if economic growth picks up again? New budget documents suggest the cost of reaching the alliance's 3.5% target may be lower than previously expected, but the longer-
NATO & Defense
The Netherlands is set to acquire a military capability it has never had before: its own airborne surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The purchase, announced alongside a far-reaching cooperation agreement with Sweden, promises to give Dutch forces greater freedom to monitor threats ranging from drones and cruise missiles to suspicious