Europe & EU
The Netherlands has once again delivered a blunt message to Brussels on the EU's next long-term budget. During a meeting in The Hague with European Council President António Costa, Prime Minister Rob Jetten made clear that the current proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework remains unacceptable
United States & Canada
The United States has unveiled its most far-reaching sanctions yet against the International Criminal Court, targeting the Hague-based institution as a whole. Yet in diplomatic circles in The Hague, one detail is being treated as a rare glimmer of hope: the measures will not take effect for six
Russia
One day after Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz bluntly declared that Russia is "the enemy" of the Netherlands, Prime Minister Rob Jetten publicly endorsed the characterization. Yet Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen appeared far less willing to embrace the same label, exposing a striking difference in tone at the top
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
Russia
The Dutch cabinet has long described Russia as the aggressor in its war against Ukraine. But Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz chose a markedly different label in parliament on Thursday, triggering an angry response from the Russian embassy and raising questions in The Hague about who gets to define Dutch foreign
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
China
Chinese hackers are gaining an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the devices that sit at the gateways of Western networks, and Dutch intelligence services now warn that this trend could translate into a sharp rise in cyberespionage operations in the years ahead. The warning raises new questions about how vulnerable government
Europe & EU
While Prime Minister Rob Jetten's cabinet supports bringing Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans closer to the EU, it is simultaneously pushing back against fast-track accession, opposing plans to weaken national vetoes in enlargement decisions and demanding far-reaching safeguards before new members can join. As Brussels
Caribbean & Latin America
The next major hurricane, cyberattack or maritime disaster may not wait for reinforcements from Europe. A new government-commissioned assessment paints a sobering picture of how vulnerable the six Dutch Caribbean islands remain when faced with large-scale crises. While officials have made progress since Hurricane Irma, the report suggests