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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

Nato

Nato targets 5% defence spending to appease Trump

The transatlantic security alliance is reportedly eyeing the biggest military spending increase since the Cold War.

14 May 2025 - 2:05PMvideocam

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Anwar urged to ‘seek justice’ for MH17 victims during Putin meeting

14 May 2025 - 8:10PMvideocam

Malaysia Airlines flight 17

Russia downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, UN aviation council rules

13 May 2025 - 6:24PM

India

Water wars: as India weaponises rivers, Pakistan thirsts for security

India’s suspension of a decades-old water treaty has left Pakistan’s farmers facing ruin. Rivers are becoming battlegrounds elsewhere, too.

10 May 2025 - 10:55AMvideocam

A parched stretch of the Indus River in Hyderabad, Sindh province, Pakistan. Photo: Shutterstock

Indonesia

Indonesian spirits soar in the Netherlands as Europe’s first Balinese temple opens

Constructed using materials brought directly from the Indonesian island, the temple was fully funded by the local Balinese community.

9 May 2025 - 5:39PM

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Explainer | How can Hong Kong patients benefit from fee transparency in private hospitals?

Consumer Council earlier accused private hospitals of a lack of transparency over pricing information and charging mechanisms.

9 May 2025 - 11:08AM

The Philippines

Duterte’s ‘political son’ Bong Go gains ground in Philippines Senate race: survey

The former president’s ICC arrest has led his indignant supporters to drum up support for Duterte-aligned candidates, analysts say.

12 May 2025 - 9:08AMvideocam

Bong Go has steadily climbed the rankings in the past months, according to a WR Numero survey. Photo: Facebook

Fame and celebrity

Meet Joy Beune, world champion speed skater and Playboy cover girl

The athlete, who is dating fellow speed skater Kjeld Nuis, is a former junior world champion and has her eye next on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

30 Apr 2025 - 4:00AM

Luxury travel

2 iPhones, 3 pillows, Air France: hotel designer Kelly Wearstler’s travel tips

Commercial interior designer Wearstler, who logs 150,000 air miles a year, shares her top travel hacks for the well-heeled.

23 Apr 2025 - 8:00PM

Art

Amsterdam show celebrates everyday life as depicted by Rembrandt, Vermeer

75 paintings from a private collection of Dutch Old Masters depicting daily life on show to mark 750th anniversary of Amsterdam’s founding.

14 Apr 2025 - 11:15AM

Portrait of a Young Woman by Dutch painter Rembrandt at the ‘From Rembrandt to Vermeer, Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection’ exhibition at the H’ART Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

European nations promise to send Ukraine billions more to help fight Russia

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said he was ‘thankful’ and said a key issue was strengthening his country’s air defences.

11 Apr 2025 - 9:26PMvideocam

Children play near an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s city of Kramatorsk on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Crime

Man sets himself and car on fire in Amsterdam’s Dam square

Police said they suspected it was a possible attempt by the 50-year-old Dutch national to take his own life.

4 Apr 2025 - 1:19AM

Crime

5 hurt, 2 seriously in Amsterdam stabbing

A bystander overpowered the suspected attacker, who is in custody and is being treated for a leg injury.

28 Mar 2025 - 4:05AM

Fame and celebrity

Who is actress Christina Applegate’s Dutch musician husband Martyn LeNoble?

The couple share a child together, daughter Sadie Grace LeNoble; both were present when Applegate received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2022.

25 Mar 2025 - 6:00PM

Christina Applegate and her husband, Martyn LeNoble, have been through a lot together. Photo: Getty Images

SCMP Highlights

Thais reject ‘dark skin’ stigma, Singapore payouts: 7 Asia highlights

From Singapore offering unemployment payouts to a slap heard around Malaysia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

25 Mar 2025 - 12:34PM

Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-Iam 2022 walks onstage at a Miss Universe contest. While some beauty pageants now celebrate more diverse aesthetics, Thailand’s most popular television shows still star fair-skinned leads. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Semiconductors

Chinese institute offers ‘uncapped’ pay to talent in chipmaking gear development

The generous terms reflect how China is sparing no effort to entice young talent to boost the nation’s capabilities in lithography systems.

19 Mar 2025 - 2:24AM

The Philippines

Philippines’ Duterte attends ICC hearing via video link

The 79-year-old was tired after flying to the Netherlands from the Philippines and was permitted to attend the session via video link.

15 Mar 2025 - 5:23AMvideocam

The Philippines

Duterte says he is ‘responsible’ for drug war as ICC takes him into custody

The ex-president, who was transferred to a detention unit on the Dutch coast, told his supporters ‘I am OK, do not worry’.

13 Mar 2025 - 11:08AMvideocam

Anti-Duterte protesters gather outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague on March 12. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Semiconductors

China’s Naura climbs the ranks of world’s top chipmaking equipment suppliers

State-backed Naura ranked sixth among the world’s top semiconductor equipment vendors by revenue in 2024, up from eighth a year earlier.

12 Mar 2025 - 11:41PM

The Philippines

Explainer | Duterte is set to enter ICC detention. Here’s what awaits him

Housed in a Dutch prison, the International Criminal Court’s detention unit has cooking facilities and cells with computers, but no internet.

12 Mar 2025 - 1:12PMvideocam

Art

Artist’s unique takes on Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Sunflowers on show

The Van Gogh and Stedelijk museums in Amsterdam are holding a blockbuster exhibition of German artist Anselm Kiefer’s work.

11 Mar 2025 - 4:54PM

German artist Anselm Kiefer adjusts a piece of his artwork The Starry Night at a preview of exhibitions of his work at the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo: AP

Li Ka-shing

S&P expresses concern about CK Hutchison’s diversification after ports sale

‘The completion of the transaction could also lead us to revisit our assessment of CKHH’s business diversification,’ S&P says.

7 Mar 2025 - 8:25PM

People passed the Cheung Kong Center in Central. Photo: AFP

France

Paris transportation chaos ending after unexploded WWII bomb disposal operation

The unexploded bomb dating back to World War II was discovered near tracks serving Paris’ busy Gare du Nord station.

7 Mar 2025 - 11:26PM

Semiconductors

ASML to build reuse-and-repair centre in Beijing despite US-China tech tensions

China overtook Taiwan as the Dutch company’s biggest market last year, with sales of US$10.9 billion, according to its annual report.

7 Mar 2025 - 4:08PMvideocam

Mergers & Acquisitions

Li Ka-shing’s Hutchison steps back from global ports amid trade war

CK Hutchison said it would sell 80 per cent of its stakes in 43 ports in 23 countries, including Panama but excluding mainland China and Hong Kong.

5 Mar 2025 - 6:02PM

Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing during a news conference following a shareholders meeting in Hong Kong May 20, 2011 before his retirement from the company. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

CK Hutchison to sell unit operating near Panama Canal amid Trump pressure

Decision by Hong Kong-based conglomerate comes as US president pushes for greater control of critical trade route over concerns about China.

5 Mar 2025 - 10:18AMvideocam

Containers at the Balboa Port operated by Panama Ports Company at the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, on February 1. Photo: Reuters

European Union

Rotterdam port most vulnerable to US energy tariffs, CEO says

Energy trade constitutes roughly three-quarters of the port’s imports from the US and a third of exports in 2024.

22 Feb 2025 - 5:54PM

Electric & new energy vehicles

How DeepSeek’s AI has become a must-have feature in Chinese smart EVs

Some two dozen carmakers, including BYD and Leapmotor, have unveiled plans to equip their models with AI developed by DeepSeek.

16 Feb 2025 - 9:00AMvideocam

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