Politics

At the invitation of the Dutch Prime Minister, Rob Jetten, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to the Netherlands from 15...

In 2025, trust in national politics among the Dutch fell to its lowest point in more than a decade, CBS reports. Confidence has declined steadily since 2020, although the Netherlands still scores relatively well compared with other European countries. Younger people tend to be more trusting than older generations, while confidence varies strongly by region.

Unions FNV, CNV and VCP have given the cabinet two weeks to scrap planned cuts to social security. They warn that strikes could begin on 30 May if the plans stay in place. The unions say the cabinet has shown no willingness to compromise.

Prime Minister Rob Jetten has condemned a "very specifically targeted" attack on the D66 party headquarters in The Hague, where a perpetrator detonated a firework bomb on Thursday evening. While dozens of young people were inside the building at the time, police have since arrested a suspect for the act, which caused significant damage and forced the office to close temporarily. This follows a previous incident last autumn where the building sustained €34,000 in damages during an anti-immigration protest, leading Jetten to warn that such "hopeless" attempts at intimidation have no place in a democracy where disagreements should be settled through dialogue.

US President Donald Trump has issued a 4 July ultimatum to the European Union, threatening to significantly hike import tariffs if a pending trade deal is not finalised by America's 250th anniversary. Following a discussion with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump expressed frustration over delays in implementing the agreement reached last summer, which includes the removal of duties on US goods like lobster and industrial products. While the EU maintains that it is in the final stages of negotiations, the President has warned that failure to comply will result in tariffs on European imports, including cars and lorries, immediately soaring to much higher levels.

The AEX index fell further on Friday morning, dropping 0.6 per cent to 1,013.32 points as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to buckle. This latest decline follows a 1.2 per cent slump on Thursday, marking a sharp retreat for Amsterdam’s blue-chip stocks after they reached a new closing record just two days ago. Market sentiment turned defensive as investors weighed conflicting reports from Washington and Tehran: while the US military confirmed retaliatory strikes and Iran threatened to respond "vigorously and without hesitation," President Donald Trump maintained the truce was still in effect despite Iranian accusations of ceasefire violations in civilian areas.

The IMO reports that around 1,500 ships and 20,000 crew members remain stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Some vessels have been stuck for weeks, and an evacuation plan is being prepared once tensions ease.

OPEC oil production has fallen to its lowest level in 36 years due to the war in Iran, which has halted exports and forced shutdowns. Kuwait and Iran saw major declines, while U.S. oil exports hit a record high as global supply routes shift.