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
Middle East
More than eleven years after the Dutch airstrike on an ISIS car-bomb factory in the Iraqi city of Hawija, the Dutch government has definitively ruled out individual financial compensation for victims. Despite a motion adopted by parliament and submitted by PRO MP Kati Piri (formerly GroenLinks-PvdA), Defence Minister
Europe & EU
The future of a major Dutch-Belgian naval procurement programme is in doubt. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has warned that Belgium may seek alternative suppliers for its next-generation frigates after costs reportedly doubled and delivery schedules slipped by years. The move raises fresh questions about the future of
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
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 dossiers shaping The Hague, Brussels and beyond. Today: Dilan Yeşilgöz, Defence Minister, VVD leader, Deputy Prime Minister — and one of the most influential figures in Dutch
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
The NATO summit in Ankara was meant to prove that the Alliance remains united as Europe takes on greater military responsibilities and Washington pushes for a gradual transfer of burdens. According to the Dutch government, that objective was achieved. Behind the optimistic rhetoric, however, lies a much larger question: can
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
Caribbean & Latin America
Was a Curaçao-flagged vessel really involved in a US military operation near the Strait of Hormuz? Authorities in Willemstad are pushing back against reports linking the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the incident, saying the ship in question was not lawfully registered under the Curaçao
Dutch politics
The latest polling figures are finally giving Prime Minister Rob Jetten some breathing room. Yet inside The Hague, attention is already shifting to August and September. Which opposition parties will the government turn to in order to secure support for its budget? Will it seek a deal on the left
Africa
The death toll is rising at an alarming pace, the World Health Organization fears thousands of infections may still be undetected, and international funding remains under pressure. As the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa escalates, the Dutch government is stepping up its contribution — but health officials warn the crisis could
Africa
It remains uncertain whether the Dutch embassy in Juba, South Sudan, will stay open. The prospect of closure has raised concerns in the Dutch House of Representatives and among humanitarian organizations due to the deteriorating situation in South Sudan. New parliamentary answers reveal that the government is, for now, sticking