TOPIC

/ location

The Netherlands

The latest news, analysis and opinion on The Netherlands. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Amsterdam

Head of State

King Willem-Alexander

Head of Government

Prime Minister Dick Schoof

Kanye West performs at Hollywood Park Grounds in 2024, in Inglewood, California. Photo: TNS

France

French minister seeks ban of Kanye West concert in Marseille

West, 48, has been heavily criticised for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:25PM

The Philippines

Sara Duterte faces impeachment, but leads Philippine presidential survey. Why?

10 Apr 2026 - 5:27PMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong halts oyster sales from French brand over possible gastroenteritis link

9 Apr 2026 - 7:52PM

Semiconductors

Proposed US chip curbs on China risk deeper supply chain disruption

New US bill pressures Japan and the Netherlands to align on China chip curbs, with potential fallout for global supply chains.

8 Apr 2026 - 8:02PM

A proposed US bill aims to close ‘critical gaps’ in existing restrictions by requiring allied countries to match US curbs on semiconductor equipment exports to China within 150 days. Photo: AFP

Indonesia

Bali rocked by spate of murder cases – is Indonesian island more dangerous now?

The cases allegedly involving foreign suspects have spurred concerns that gang disputes have moved from other countries to the island.

2 Apr 2026 - 6:30PMvideocam

France

France suspects link to pro-Iranian group HAYI in foiled Paris bomb plot

The group had posted a video on March 23 targeting Jewish interests and communities in Europe, naming Bank of America’s Paris headquarters.

2 Apr 2026 - 12:12AM

Indonesia

Indonesia to deport Scottish crime boss wanted by Spain

Steven Lyons is wanted in Spain and Britain in connection with organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering.

1 Apr 2026 - 6:33PM

Steven Lyons (centre) is escorted by police officers in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday, Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Europe urged to ‘learn to fight for itself’ in case US-China truce collapses

European Council on Foreign Relations calls for Brussels to be prepared and ‘not wait until the next crisis hits’.

31 Mar 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

Crime

France studies possible Iran link after bomb attack foiled at Bank of America

A link to Iran is suspected due to similarities to ‘recent attempted attacks in Europe which a pro-Iran group claimed responsibility for’.

31 Mar 2026 - 12:47AM

The Philippines

How soaring fuel prices are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink

Farmer Elmer Ullani spent seven hours transporting his produce to a trading post, but says he has nothing left after paying for fuel.

8 Apr 2026 - 3:14PMvideocam

Philippine farmer Elmer Ullani spells out “Stop US-Iran War” with his cabbages after having to spend almost all of the money he had earned at the market to pay for the fuel needed to get him there and back. Photo: Facebook / Elmer Ullani

South China Sea

Will Strait of Hormuz blockade push Philippines back to China for energy talks?

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says a reset in the fractious relationship is under way but observers aren’t so sure.

30 Mar 2026 - 9:58AMvideocam

China and the Philippines have competing claims to parts of the South China Sea. Photo: Xinhua

China trade

UK blocks China wind project on ‘national security’ amid tense business climate

The UK government cited security concerns but gave few details, leaving observers to question if geopolitical pressure shaped move.

26 Mar 2026 - 9:57PMvideocam

China-Germany relations

Germany’s Merz floats EU-China trade deal as European capitals soften on Beijing

Remarks urging ‘strategic partnerships around the world’ underscore how tensions with the US are inducing a more accommodating stance.

26 Mar 2026 - 8:31PMvideocam

US-China relations

Why China’s Iran war strategy is working – and may even be an opportunity

Beijing happy to watch, wait and safeguard core interests – oil flows, Taiwan and trade – as its geopolitical rival spends resources on war.

26 Mar 2026 - 8:09AMvideocam

Archaeology and palaeontology

Lost remains of French musketeer d’Artagnan may have been found in Dutch church

DNA testing is under way to verify ⁠the skeleton. D’Artagnan, fictionalised in Alexandre ⁠Dumas’ novel The ⁠Three Musketeers, died in 1673.

26 Mar 2026 - 1:12AM

An excavation pit opened in the floor at the Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, Netherlands, where archaeologists believe they may have uncovered the skeletal remains of musketeer d’Artagnan. Photo: Reuters

Britain

UK police arrest 2 men over Jewish ambulances arson attack

Arrests came after police said they were investigating an online claim of responsibility by a little-known Islamist group with links to Iran.

25 Mar 2026 - 5:40PM

Stocks

Global buy-backs soar but mainland China, Hong Kong see drop: Capital Group

The repurchases, along with AI gains, help propel global equities to fresh peaks in 2025, asset manager says.

25 Mar 2026 - 6:19PM

Donald Trump

From critic to guest: new Dutch PM to dine with Trump on US visit

Rob Jetten faces a delicate situation with a US president he once branded a criminal who flirted openly with dictators.

23 Mar 2026 - 10:52AM

Netherlands’ Prime Minister Rob Jetten. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

China and the Netherlands seek ‘pragmatic’ reset as Nexperia row rolls on

Wang Yi hails ‘positive signals’ from new Dutch minister as US pressure and EU de-risking leave The Hague juggling security and trade interests.

21 Mar 2026 - 5:50PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump calls Nato ‘cowards’ over lack of support in Iran war, sends more troops

Iran is threatening tourist sites worldwide, renewing fears that Tehran could resort to militant attacks beyond the Middle East.

21 Mar 2026 - 12:55AMvideocam

Trending in China

China woman reunites with birth parents 28 years after being left in toilet by grandad

Banquet and firecrackers greet woman as she meets real family who plan to visit her adoptive Dutch parents this summer.

20 Mar 2026 - 12:29PM

A Chinese woman who was abandoned in a toilet as a baby by her grandfather and then adopted by a Dutch couple has been reunited with her biological parents nearly three decades later. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

China trade

Papers please: China raises pressure on Panama with ship inspection wave

Intensified inspections for Panama-flagged vessels – among the world’s most common registrations – retaliation for canal port seizure, source says.

16 Mar 2026 - 7:30PMvideocam

Containers sit at the Balboa terminal, formerly run by CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports, after the Panama government ordered the occupation of the port following a court ruling that the concession was unconstitutional. Photo: AP

North Korea

North Korea cancels Pyongyang marathon weeks before race, with no reason given

The race had been set for April 5 and would have marked the second year since Pyongyang resumed the event after the pandemic.

9 Mar 2026 - 7:18PMvideocam

Wellness

Singing circle in Amsterdam offers benefits to dementia patients

Scientists are studying the potential benefits of music for people with dementia, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.

8 Mar 2026 - 8:07PM

Semiconductors

China warns of fresh chip crisis as Nexperia dispute flares up

China warns the ‘Dutch side’ must bear responsibility if the Nexperia dispute reignites global automotive chip shortages.

8 Mar 2026 - 6:30PM

Nexperia is a key supplier of automotive semiconductors. Photo: AFP

Art

Rembrandt painting rejected as not by him in 1960 now confirmed his

After years of scrutiny, ‘Vision of Zacharias in the Temple’ has been confirmed to be a Rembrandt by the Netherlands’ Rijksmuseum.

5 Mar 2026 - 7:15PM

“Vision of Zacharias in the Temple”, confirmed by Dutch researchers as a 1633 original work by Rembrandt, is displayed at the Rijksmuseum Atelier in Amsterdam on March 2, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Semiconductors

Top chip leaders urge national drive to ‘build China’s ASML’ amid US curbs

Financial and human resources must be pooled and authorities should start drawing up plans immediately, top executives say in an article.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:32PM

Art

8 of the world’s most exciting art exhibitions to visit this March

Catch intriguing sculpture, paintings, photography and more at New York’s Guggenheim and MoMA, London’s National Portrait Gallery, and Hong Kong’s Palace Museum and M+.

4 Mar 2026 - 6:00AM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW