United States & Canada
The International Criminal Court received two highly visible signs of support on Friday, just as The Hague braces for what could become the most serious American assault on the court in its history. While King Willem-Alexander received ICC President Tomoko Akane and former ICC judge Navanethem Pillay was awarded
Russia
The Dutch government has flatly rejected a Russian request to extradite nine officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC), underscoring The Hague's determination to shield the court from growing international pressure. But while Russia's demands were swiftly dismissed, diplomats and legal experts are increasingly watching another
Middle East
The Dutch government has publicly endorsed the core conclusions of a major Amnesty International investigation into Iran's crackdown on the Women, Life, Freedom protests, while quietly examining what further role it could play in international efforts to hold Iranian officials accountable. But how far is The Hague willing
China
The European Union is unlikely to emerge from its current trade talks with China with a sweeping breakthrough, according to Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma. Instead, Brussels may have to settle for limited agreements in a handful of sectors, while keeping tougher trade measures on the table if negotiations
Caribbean & Latin America
As Europe grapples with a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalry, economic fragmentation and the rise of new powers, the Dutch cabinet is making a strategic bet: the Netherlands must forge deeper partnerships across the Global South, even when interests and values do not always fully align. Exclusive reporting and
Asia & Australia
The Netherlands is preparing to back one of the European Union’s most significant trade agreements in the Indo-Pacific in years. But the deal is about more than lower tariffs and new export opportunities. As geopolitical tensions rise and Europe searches for new sources of critical raw materials, the
Europe & EU
As governments prepare for this year’s UN climate summit in Turkey, the Dutch cabinet is making a clear bet: keep international climate ambition moving forward, even as geopolitical tensions, shrinking development budgets and resistance from major emitters threaten to slow progress. But behind the broad European consensus lies a
Asia & Australia
Can private investors help close the enormous financing gap facing developing countries? And how far is the Dutch government willing to go in using the World Bank as a vehicle for reconstruction in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Gaza and Syria? Those questions are at the heart of the Dutch
Asia & Australia
The Dutch state has won the final legal battle over the fate of 42 Afghan men who guarded the Netherlands' embassy in Kabul before the Taliban takeover. After years of litigation, the Supreme Court has ruled that the men have no legal right to be brought to the Netherlands,
Africa
The European Union has formally approved new return rules for rejected asylum seekers, a decision that Dutch Migration Minister Bart van den Brink called a “historic day”. The agreement provides the legal foundation for the creation of return centres in countries outside the EU, a long-sought objective for a
United States & Canada
Could the European Union soon deploy one of its most powerful legal tools to shield the International Criminal Court in The Hague from Washington? The Dutch parliament is showing unity in defence of the International Criminal Court as fears grow that Washington could announce new sanctions against the Hague-based
Russia
Russia currently shows no intention of attacking NATO immediately after the war in Ukraine ends. But according to the Dutch military intelligence service MIVD, Moscow could be ready for a limited conflict with the alliance in less than a year under the right conditions. How serious is the threat, and