Africa
Governing party D66 is seeking clarification from the cabinet over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian, economic and security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
NATO & Defense
The Dutch government wants its armed forces to be visibly more deployable by 2026, for national and allied tasks. In the Defence Policy Letter 2026, the focus shifts from rebuilding capacity to immediate military readiness, a response to what the ministry describes as a sustained decline in Europe’s security
Europe & EU
The Dutch cabinet wants to become more “strategically European”, even to the point of considering European nuclear weapons in cooperation with France. Russia is seen as the main threat. The Netherlands aims to maintain good relations with the US, while also becoming less dependent on its long‑standing and trusted
United States
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has voiced his support for Spain amid a dispute over NATO’s direction and the role of critical allies. According to Jetten, it is “absolutely clear” to all EU leaders that Spain will remain a full member of the military alliance. “And it will remain
Caribbean & Latin America
The Dutch cabinet believes that relations between the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten can be improved through the creation of a new Kingdom Conference. Improving governance on the islands, tackling poverty and strengthening local economies are presented as key policy priorities. This emerges from the Policy Letter on Kingdom
Dutch politics
In an increasing number of places across the Netherlands, plans for asylum accommodation are leading to protests and rising tensions. Recent unrest at asylum reception centres, including in Loosdrecht, is primarily being viewed by the government as a public order issue, with municipalities expected to receive maximum support to help
Dutch politics
Under Prime Minister Rob Jetten, the Netherlands is once again emphatically positioning itself as one of the most fiscally cautious EU member states in the negotiations over the European Union’s new multiannual budget. Jetten has flatly rejected the European Commission’s proposal to raise the EU budget for the
Dutch politics
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Netherlands has spent more than €20 billion on Ukraine or on Ukrainian refugees. Funding commitments run through to 2029, according to a new parliamentary document released by the Dutch cabinet.
Asia & Australia
Former Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp will be the new ambassador of the European Union to China, sources in The Hague confirm. Veldkamp is expected to take up his post in Beijing this summer. The EU ambassadorship in China is regarded as one of the Union’s most politically and
Ukraine
The Hague has reacted positively to the breakthrough in Brussels on the European loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine. Prime Minister Rob Jetten calls it “a very important step” now that the support package, after months of blockage, has been definitively approved.
Europe & EU
For years, Dutch politics has talked about tightening asylum policy. That made the political blow all the more painful when a key asylum bill was rejected in the Senate. While parties are busily blaming one another, the defeat represents not only a substantive setback for the minority cabinet, but also
Middle East
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Berendsen (CDA), has described the recently adopted Israeli law allowing the death penalty for Palestinian detainees as “unacceptable.” He writes this in his answers to parliamentary questions about the legislation, which critics say is discriminatory and violates the international legal order. The Netherlands