Russia
Can Russian aluminium still find its way onto the European market despite existing import bans? More than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and after twenty EU sanctions packages, loopholes appear to remain. According to signals from the Dutch aluminium industry, Russian aluminium may still
Summer Briefings
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy issues shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today: Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen. From Israel and Iran to NATO, Europe, Syria and the future of the
China
A new Chinese law that entered into force on 1 July is triggering growing concern in The Hague. Dutch Foreign Minister Berendsen does not rule out the possibility that statements made by Dutch citizens outside China could, under certain circumstances, lead to legal prosecution by Chinese authorities. What does this
Africa
From discreet support for Russian journalists to multi‑million euro investments in Gaza, Congo and China, a new Foreign Ministry report offers a rare, detailed look at how the Netherlands is putting its human rights policy into practice. But behind the long list of projects lies a stark reality: shrinking
Summer Briefings
Every Saturday and Sunday this summer, The Hague Insider publishes a special Summer Briefing, taking a deep dive into the politicians, companies and policy issues shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today: Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten — the Netherlands' first D66 prime minister, the country's youngest-ever
China
After visits by Food Security Minister Silvio Erkens and Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Dutch government is preparing for more cabinet-level engagement with China. A visit by Prime Minister Rob Jetten could follow as early as this autumn or in spring 2027, according to sources familiar with the
Asia & Australia
The Netherlands is stepping up its engagement in one of the world's most strategically important regions. Dutch Foreign Minister Berendsen is travelling to the Philippines this week for high-level talks with Asian counterparts, at the ASEAN Summit. Beyond the official agenda, the visit offers fresh clues about
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