China
A Dutch minister who was once sanctioned by China and barred from entering the country has now emerged from a three-day visit to Beijing describing it as the warmest reception he has received since joining the government. Behind the diplomatic smiles, however, lie difficult questions about trade imbalances, semiconductor
NATO & Defense
New surveillance aircraft, submarine orders, missile production partnerships, naval projects and billions of euros in fresh defence investments. As NATO leaders gather in Ankara, the summit is increasingly taking on another name among diplomats and defence executives: the Summit of Deals. But behind the headlines lies a bigger question. How
Europe & EU
NATO leaders arrive in the Turkish capital Ankara for a summit that may lack the dramatic headline-making decisions of last year's gathering in The Hague — but could prove just as consequential for the future of the alliance. Behind closed doors, leaders from all 32 NATO member states
Middle East
Supporters hailed him as Iran’s future. Critics accused him of speaking for a community he does not represent. Inside and outside the Dutch parliament, Reza Pahlavi’s visit to The Hague exposed deep divisions within the Iranian opposition. Who supported him? Why did members of parliament intervene? And what
China
The first Dutch ministerial trade mission to China in eight years comes at a pivotal moment for relations between The Hague and Beijing. Officially, the visit focuses on business opportunities. In reality, it will also test how far the Netherlands can deepen economic ties with China while navigating growing geopolitical
What happens when one of Europe’s most recognisable politicians suddenly disappears from public life? Eight months after stepping down following GroenLinks–PvdA’s election defeat, former Dutch Foreign Minister, former European Commission Executive Vice-President and social-democratic heavyweight Frans Timmermans says he still does not have a new
Europe & EU
As Brussels unveils a nearly €200 billion EU budget for 2027, the Dutch government is preparing for a tough battle. While The Hague broadly supports the European Commission’s priorities, it is making clear that member states should not be asked to pay more before Brussels exhausts all options within
Europe & EU
Can dialogue still deliver peace in Europe’s most devastating conflict in decades? And can a security organisation born during the Cold War still play a decisive role in ending the war in Ukraine? Speaking to hundreds of parliamentarians gathered in The Hague, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten delivered a
Dutch politics
A €200 million investment, an AI supercomputer designed to compete in an increasingly geopolitical race for computing power, and a Dutch ambition to reduce dependence on American and Chinese technology. The Dutch government has unveiled new details about the Netherlands AI Factory in Groningen, one of the country's
Russia
Will The Hague soon become home to the tribunal tasked with prosecuting Russia's leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine? What is the next step for the Dutch governement, who is - again - ernstig bezig for the The Hague's position as the world's capital
Ukraine
What happens if a future ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia turns out to be only a temporary pause? Who would protect Ukraine if Moscow launches another attack? And should Dutch troops be prepared to play a role in deterring renewed Russian aggression? A new report by the Advisory Council on
United States & Canada
Who will shape the rules governing artificial intelligence in the decades ahead? Can Europe reduce its dependence on American tech giants and Chinese state-backed champions? And how far is the Dutch government willing to go to secure Europe's technological sovereignty? Behind a newly unveiled international AI strategy