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
As Brussels unveils a nearly €200 billion EU budget for 2027, the Dutch government is preparing for a tough battle. While The Hague broadly supports the European Commission’s priorities, it is making clear that member states should not be asked to pay more before Brussels exhausts all options within
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
Dutch politics
A €200 million investment, an AI supercomputer designed to compete in an increasingly geopolitical race for computing power, and a Dutch ambition to reduce dependence on American and Chinese technology. The Dutch government has unveiled new details about the Netherlands AI Factory in Groningen, one of the country's
Russia
Will The Hague soon become home to the tribunal tasked with prosecuting Russia's leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine? What is the next step for the Dutch governement, who is - again - ernstig bezig for the The Hague's position as the world's capital
Ukraine
What happens if a future ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia turns out to be only a temporary pause? Who would protect Ukraine if Moscow launches another attack? And should Dutch troops be prepared to play a role in deterring renewed Russian aggression? A new report by the Advisory Council on
United States & Canada
Who will shape the rules governing artificial intelligence in the decades ahead? Can Europe reduce its dependence on American tech giants and Chinese state-backed champions? And how far is the Dutch government willing to go to secure Europe's technological sovereignty? Behind a newly unveiled international AI strategy
Dutch politics
Can the Dutch government continue relying on American and other foreign cloud providers for its most sensitive data? The cabinet increasingly appears to be answering that question with a firm no. In a new strategic shift, The Hague has opted to develop its own sovereign government cloud, operated under government
Middle East
As thousands of seriously ill and injured Palestinian children remain trapped in Gaza or stranded on waiting lists in Egypt, pressure is mounting on the Dutch government to act. Parliament wants answers in a debate: will the Netherlands accept more children for life-saving treatment. Behind the scenes, coalition tensions
NATO & Defense
What happens when a decades-old European nuclear partnership is pulled into a renewed push for defence capabilities? The United Kingdom has formally asked Urenco to support the rebuilding of its nuclear fuel cycle for defence purposes — a development quietly endorsed by The Hague.
Middle East
Internal documents from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs concludes that the March attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran breached international law. Yet in the immediate aftermath, Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen refrained from making such a judgment publicly — despite clear warnings from his own officials.