Politics

Police have arrested Extinction Rebellion activists after they blocked the railway tracks at Utrecht Centraal station. The protest, which follows a sit-in in the station hall, has brought all train traffic in and out of the major rail hub to a complete standstill. Protesters are demanding that the government immediately enforce tougher sanctions against Israel.

The Amsterdam benchmark AEX index hit an all-time intraday high of 1,044.63 points on Friday, driven by market optimism following comments from US officials hinting at a swift end to the conflict with Iran. Despite ongoing disputes over uranium stockpiles and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz—which pushed Brent crude prices up to $105.19 a barrel—European markets rallied broadly, with payment firm Adyen leading the Amsterdam gains. The morning session was further shaped by major corporate deals, including a formal €7.8 billion takeover bid for locker company InPost by a FedEx-led consortium, a €160 million European and Australian tech division sell-off by recruitment firm Randstad to LTM, and a €10.7 billion private buyout bid for Italian pharmaceutical company Recordati by a consortium led by CVC.

The Dutch government has approved a three-year ban on the trade of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan Heights, while exploring whether the restrictions can legally expand to services and investments. The independent move follows a lack of support for an EU-wide boycott, with ministers citing deep concerns over how settlement expansion and settler violence are undermining a two-state solution. While the ban applies to both direct imports and Dutch companies operating abroad, Ministers Tom Berendsen and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma warned parliament that enforcing the measure will face practical limits, prompting the Netherlands to coordinate with nations like Belgium to boost its effectiveness.

The Dutch government plans to introduce new pay transparency rules from 2027. Employees would gain access to salary information, while employers must report pay gaps. The proposal aims to reduce inequality, but still requires parliamentary approval.

Demonstrations and counter-protests were held across several Dutch cities on Saturday, focusing on asylum policy and public spending cuts. Organisers described the events as peaceful, while progressive groups also mobilised in support of refugees and against what they called far-right actions.

State Secretary Silvio Erkens has allocated 13.5 million euros to compensate fishermen for the soaring fuel prices triggered by the conflict in Iran, repurposing funds originally intended for European sustainability projects. While the scheme offers relief for rising operating costs incurred since February, it excludes claims for lost revenue from those who stayed in port to avoid high prices. This emergency measure, funded largely by the EU, arrives alongside separate multi-million euro packages aimed at long-term modernisation and support for shrimp, flatfish, and shellfish fishers as the industry navigates a volatile energy market.

During his recent tour of the Caribbean, Prime Minister Rob Jetten signaled a major shift in Dutch policy by offering to revise the cooperation agreements between the four nations of the Kingdom. Aiming to move away from traditional interventionism, Jetten emphasised a partnership based on mutual solidarity and self-sufficiency, particularly as he prepares for the inaugural Kingdom Conference later this year. While the Netherlands will continue to provide financial backing to tackle poverty in its special municipalities, the focus for the broader Caribbean countries will pivot towards the sharing of expertise, fulfilling a collective desire for greater local autonomy and equality.

The AEX index opened lower on Friday as investors paused to catch their breath following a significant two-day rally. Market sentiment remains cautious as the world awaits concrete details from the summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Despite Trump’s optimistic talk of "fantastic trade deals" and potential cooperation regarding oil and the Strait of Hormuz, the lack of specific particulars—coupled with rising tensions over Iran—led the Amsterdam benchmark to dip 0.9 per cent to 1,012.60 points in early trading.