News items Ministry of Foreign Affairshttps://www.government.nl/News items of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Government.nlen-GBAny form of re-use of the content of this feed is permittedMon, 09 Mar 2026 03:28:59 GMT5News itemshttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2026/02/23/new-minister-of-foreign-affairs-and-minister-of-foreign-trade-and-development-cooperationOn 23 February 2026 the members of the Jetten government were sworn in. Tom Berendsen (Christian Democratic Alliance, CDA) is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (Democrats '66, D66) is the new Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:15:00 GMTf82d5158-d03f-4615-8288-712991f39e6chttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2026/02/19/the-netherlands-continues-to-support-ukraineOn 24 February 2022 Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Every day, the Ukrainian people fight for their lives and liberty – and for the security of Europe as a whole. Together with its allies, the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression.Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:12:00 GMT63b15caf-06bd-4184-972d-c9799a262f6fhttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/12/17/netherlands-to-host-international-claims-commission-for-ukraineThe Netherlands has announced that it will host the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, which will deal with compensation claims for damage inflicted in Ukraine during the war. The announcement, which came on 16 December at a ministerial diplomatic conference in The Hague, followed the adoption of an international resolution inviting the Netherlands to host the newly established Claims Commission.Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:40:00 GMT6d7e16b2-d91f-4ca8-94dd-a6054a1745f4https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/12/02/agreement-between-the-netherlands-and-indonesia-on-the-return-of-two-dutch-prisonersThe Netherlands and Indonesia have reached an agreement on the return of 2 Dutch nationals who have been imprisoned for several years in Indonesia. This means that the 2 prisoners will soon be transferred to the Netherlands. The agreement concerns a 73 year-old and a 64 year-old who have been imprisoned since 2008 and 2015 respectively. Both were jailed for drugs-related offences. The Netherlands had sought their return on humanitarian grounds. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, David van Weel, and the Indonesian Minister for Law and Human Rights, Prof. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) online on Tuesday confirming the return of the prisoners.Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:19:00 GMT4598c49b-e438-4a1e-9d53-f844563efbdehttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/10/13/more-than-1.2-million-visitors-for-the-netherlands-circular-pavilion-at-expo-2025-osakaFrom 13 April to 13 October 2025, the World Expo took place in Osaka, Japan. The Netherlands participated with the circular pavilion Common Ground, which attracted more than 1.2 million visitors. Over Expo’s six-month period, the Netherlands organized over 140 events and 6 trade missions.Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:50:00 GMT3829f982-c74b-4884-a1ec-613c06035e7ahttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2024/09/20/kingdom-of-the-netherlands-at-the-united-nations-general-assemblyThe Kingdom of the Netherlands is attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. What topics are going to be discussed at this General Assembly? And what is the Netherlands’ position on them?Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:30:00 GMT46533c6e-f11b-4fc3-b61c-dc90f7f0dcdbhttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/08/23/veldkamp-and-boerma-resignMinister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp and Minister for Foreign Trade Hanneke Boerma have resigned their office.Sat, 23 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMTf97918ce-a15b-4460-a08a-2d85930208a6https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/17/quantum-computersWhenever you share sensitive information, caution is essential. Strong passwords and two-step verification offer protection. But what if a new technology could soon render that security ineffective? That’s exactly what quantum computers are capable of. Fortunately, the Netherlands is a leader in this field, as we demonstrated in the run-up to the NATO Summit.Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:49:00 GMT0ff442e1-2991-4ad1-9764-8c8df7680265https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/10/netherlands-pledges-300-million-for-reconstruction-and-economic-recovery-of-ukraineOn Thursday the Netherlands pledged €300 million for the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine in 2025 and 2026. Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp announced the support at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome, in which he and Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof are participating. The URC is an annual international event dedicated to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:54:00 GMT8446c62c-25b9-4371-8d94-33a597fd4b84https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/09/european-court-of-human-rights-russia-responsible-for-downing-of-flight-mh17On 9 July 2025 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that Russia is responsible for the downing of flight MH17 and for the deaths of everyone on board, including 196 Dutch nationals. Russia is also responsible for the additional suffering caused to the next of kin, owing to its continued denial of any involvement and its obstruction of the investigations into the downing of the aircraft. The judgment is an important step on the road to justice.Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:57:00 GMT96a703f9-d1c3-4127-9ee6-671414831a88https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/26/conclusion-nato-summitThe second and final day of the NATO Summit in The Hague focused on the new NATO standard: spending 3.5 percent of gross domestic product on defence, plus an additional 1.5 percent for supporting activities. Heads of state, government leaders, and the foreign and defence ministers of NATO member countries gathered at the World Forum to make decisions on this matter.Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:59:00 GMTb11bde48-67d9-4cf1-822d-5d497dfece58https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/25/queen-maxima-welcomes-partners-of-world-leaders-in-rotterdamIn the context of the 2025 NATO Summit, a special programme was held on Wednesday 25 June for the partners of the heads of state and government in attendance. Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s partner Loes Meurs hosted the guests in Rotterdam.Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:06:00 GMT8d008428-6690-41c0-8350-4a881442a9dahttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/24/looking-back-day-1-nato-summitThe 2025 NATO Summit officially opened today in The Hague. Heads of government, ministers, experts and defence industry representatives as well as young people, academics and opinion leaders came together at various locations to discuss security, cooperation and innovation. Below is an overview of the day’s main events.Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:00:00 GMTbb4da32a-0d4a-4a7a-acc8-e2dcb35c5658https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/23/king-prime-minister-and-nato-secretary-general-visit-summit-venue-in-the-hagueOn Monday 23 June a tour of the World Forum took place; this is the location where the 2025 NATO Summit will be held on 24 and 25 June. Prime Minister Dick Schoof and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited the site for a look at both the front and behind-the-scenes preparations.Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:12:00 GMT219d8ff6-256b-482e-9d02-57e5fc56b214https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/23/closing-of-nato-and-the-netherlandsOn Sunday 22 June, ‘NATO and the Netherlands: a Journey’ celebrated its conclusion at the World Forum in The Hague. On this final day, under the guidance of the political engagement organisation De Kiesmannen, around 150 primary and secondary school children discussed peace, security and the role of NATO. Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp and Chief of Defence General Onno Eichelsheim were present for the event. Several members of the municipal executive of Madurodam, which consists entirely of young people, were also there.Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:11:00 GMT9cba1b17-4e70-4e4e-8ad3-b66e2f007544https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/17/2025-nato-summit-programmeNATO has announced the programme for the summit that will be held in The Hague on 24 and 25 June. Dozens of heads of state and government of NATO countries will meet at the World Forum to discuss international security and current global developments, together with foreign and defence ministers.Tue, 17 Jun 2025 08:00:00 GMT0b03e069-f255-4ecf-8514-751cc266373dhttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/13/the-netherlands-supports-nato-5-targetThe government of the Netherlands intends to support the NATO proposal for 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) per year to be spent on defence and 1.5% of GDP per year to be allocated to broader investment in relevant areas such as societal resilience and infrastructure. This was the message set out by Prime Minister Dick Schoof today in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives. The NATO allies are expected to agree on the percentage at the NATO Summit in The Hague.Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:45:00 GMTc020fbfc-f680-44d8-933f-be7b3a671b15https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/04/foreign-minister-caspar-veldkamp-to-temporarily-take-over-foreign-trade-and-development-portfolioOn June 3, 2025, Prime Minister Dick Schoof tendered the resignation of the members of government belonging to the Freedom Party (PVV) to His Majesty the King. All other ministers and state secretaries will continue in the capacity of a caretaker government. For the time being, Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp will take over the duties of former foreign trade and development minister Reinette Klever.Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:00 GMT556c0b52-280a-4acf-8a59-d93686ca493ahttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/03/the-netherlands-supports-radio-free-europe-with-donation-of-%E2%82%AC3-millionThe Netherlands is donating €3 million to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/FL), a media organisation that brings independent factual news to regions where press freedom is under pressure or non-existent. This was announced today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp. With this donation the Netherlands hopes to enable RFE/RL to continue its vital work.Tue, 03 Jun 2025 14:38:00 GMT8a8f0d7d-dce9-49f4-ac0c-637f49ee2c57https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/05/28/prosperity-and-resilience-at-the-forefront-of-dutch-trade-policyIn a turbulent world, the Netherlands is opting for an assertive trade policy. In doing so, the government is focusing explicitly on what is good for the Dutch economy and national security. Reinette Klever, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, informed the House of Representatives today about the government’s main foreign trade priorities for the years ahead. Wed, 28 May 2025 15:24:00 GMT978eb3a4-78cd-49f0-9695-207648fc5d2e