United States & Canada
As Washington presses ahead with sanctions against the International Criminal Court, the Dutch government is using the UN General Assembly to rally support for one of the institutions at the heart of The Hague's international identity. But officials in The Hague privately recognise that building a coalition of
Africa
Sudan's war is deepening, millions are displaced and international mediation efforts have yet to produce a ceasefire. A recent Dutch government assessment offers a glimpse into how The Hague views the conflict, the risks it poses for Europe and the limits of Western leverage. At the same time,
NATO & Defense
The Dutch cabinet’s push to give intelligence services broader powers to counter espionage, cyber threats and foreign interference appears to enjoy wide political backing in The Hague. But as the proposed overhaul of intelligence law enters public consultation, two key oversight bodies are issuing an unusually stark warning: the
As a nationwide transport strike brings large parts of the Netherlands to a standstill, the conflict over welfare reforms is showing little sign of easing. Although the Dutch minority cabinet has scrapped or postponed several planned social security cuts, unions insist the concessions do not go far enough, setting the
Asia & Australia
The European Union is preparing to open its market further to Armenian products after Russia imposed sweeping trade restrictions on key Armenian exports. The move is presented as a temporary economic lifeline, but it also reveals a broader geopolitical calculation in Brussels and European capitals: keeping Armenia anchored to Europe
Middle East
A majority in the Dutch House of Representatives has again backed the government's sanctions regime targeting products from Israeli settlements, rejecting a series of motions aimed at delaying, reversing or narrowing the measures. Read on for the full story, including where Dutch political parties stand on the issue
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 & Defense
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