Middle East
The Netherlands is maintaining pressure on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over his latest remarks on Gaza, but Dutch ministers admit there is still too little support in the EU for sanctions. Newly published parliamentary answers offer a glimpse into how The Hague is trying to combine criticism
Europe & EU
The Dutch government is backing a more overtly strategic use of European development policy, arguing that Brussels should be transparent about its own interests when building partnerships around the world. Exclusive reporting and analysis from The Hague. First month €2.50 Start reading
Africa
The Netherlands is backing new EU visa restrictions on Somalia and Guinea as part of a broader effort to increase pressure on countries that do not cooperate on migration returns. The move underscores how strongly The Hague supports the use of visa policy as a tool in European migration diplomacy.
Europe & EU
A broad coalition in the European Parliament is demanding urgent action to protect the International Criminal Court (ICC) from planned new US sanctions, warning that Europe has only a narrow window to respond before Washington acts. The debate puts fresh pressure on both Brussels and The Hague: should they continue
Asia & Australia
The Dutch government has defended the participation of Dutch diplomats in a controversial Azerbaijani-organised visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, arguing that such trips are a normal part of diplomatic work despite ongoing international concerns over cultural heritage, disputed historical narratives and the 2023 exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians
Ukraine
The Dutch cabinet has endorsed key recommendations from a recent Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) report on Ukraine's future security, backing a stronger European role after any future peace deal. But what security guarantees does The Hague support, and how deeply is the Netherlands prepared to become
NATO & Defence
The Netherlands is preparing a major overhaul of how it protects the increasingly strategic North Sea. After years of warnings about espionage, sabotage and vulnerabilities around subsea cables, pipelines and offshore energy infrastructure, the cabinet is now moving towards a permanent security structure backed by hundreds of millions of euros.
Asia & Australia
Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen has walked out of an IMF meeting in Bangkok during a speech by Russia's Finance Minister, in a sign of growing Western unease over Moscow's return to international economic forums. The protest comes as the United States and other hosts have
Europe & EU
The Dutch government hopes a new message from Brussels will help convince Dutch judges that returns to Italy can resume. But while the European Commission says reception capacity across the EU is now adequate, Dutch courts remain unconvinced. The dispute could become one of the first major tests of whether
Russia
The Dutch government wants to give authorities new powers to stop, inspect and even detain vessels linked to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, arguing that the ships pose not only a sanctions risk but also a growing threat to critical infrastructure in the North Sea. Exclusive reporting and
Europe & EU
Prime Minister Rob Jetten has called for increased European support for Ukraine while warning that the United States is becoming a less predictable ally. Ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, the Dutch prime minister criticised planned US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), dismissed President Donald Trump'
NATO & Defence
The Netherlands and France have held their first meeting on nuclear deterrence cooperation, opening a new chapter in bilateral defence relations as European governments seek to assume greater responsibility for their own security. Ministers insist the initiative complements NATO, but the talks underscore a broader shift in Europe's