United States & Canada
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy dossiers shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today, we focus on a company that has become far more than a technology giant: ASML. The Veldhoven-based
Ukraine
Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, the Netherlands is still pursuing justice on multiple legal fronts. International courts have increasingly concluded that Russia bears responsibility for the disaster, yet compensation, full accountability and any form of admission
United States & Canada
As political pressure on the International Criminal Court intensifies from multiple directions, the Dutch government has now taken a clear position in one of the most consequential crises in the Court's history. Ahead of a decisive vote by the ICC's member states on 24 July, The
United States & Canada
A new offensive from Washington against the International Criminal Court is triggering growing alarm in both The Hague and Brussels. As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses the ICC and its supporters of waging a “war” against America, Dutch and European officials are responding with increasingly sharp language of
Dutch politics
What happens if Washington goes beyond symbolic measures and launches a full-scale campaign against the International Criminal Court in The Hague? That question is increasingly dominating conversations behind closed doors in The Hague, according to diplomatic and legal insiders, after the Trump administration signalled it is prepared to use
United States & Canada
Washington raised concerns. Beijing remains a crucial market. And at the centre of it all stands ASML. How does The Hague assess ASML's compliance with export controls after concerns previously raised by American officials? And what does this reveal about the Netherlands' increasingly delicate position between the
Dutch politics
How dependent is the Netherlands on the raw materials needed to build warships, drones and batteries? And what happens if those supplies suddenly disappear — because of Chinese export controls or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz? The Dutch government is sounding the alarm over growing geopolitical pressures on critical
NATO & Defense
Before NATO leaders gathered behind closed doors in Ankara, the mood among diplomats was tense. Donald Trump had publicly attacked allies, questioned the Alliance's value, criticised Spain, and once again stirred controversy with remarks about Greenland. Senior officials privately admitted the summit would largely be about one thing:
NATO & Defense
For most ministers attending the NATO Summit in Ankara, the visit is a matter of diplomacy and defence policy. For Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz, it is also deeply personal. Born in Ankara and fled Turkey as a child because of her family's political background, Yeşilgöz has returned
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
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