All articles tagged with #netherlands
Rob Jetten, 38, was sworn in as the Netherlands’ youngest prime minister, becoming the first openly gay leader, and now leads a three-party minority government aiming to boost defense spending toward 5% of GDP and cut livestock emissions, while navigating a fragile coalition and a CV misrepresentation controversy involving a state secretary from his own party.
New Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten leads a fragile 66-seat minority coalition pledging defense boosts, housing spending and farm reforms funded by welfare cuts and a new 'freedom contribution' tax, but faces strong cross-party opposition and a high risk of deadlock as it seeks support in a parliament without a majority.
Rob Jetten, leader of the D66 party, was sworn in as the Netherlands’ youngest prime minister, heading a three‑party minority coalition sworn in at Huis ten Bosch, marking a generational shift in Dutch politics.
Live updates from Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026: Great Britain edge Canada 5-4 to win the men’s curling final, marking Olympic gold; the Netherlands continue their dominance in speed skating with Jorrit Bergsma’s mass-start gold and Marijke Groenewoud’s mass-start victory. The women’s halfpipe was postponed due to heavy snow, while Germany kept its bid for 2036 alive. The IOC said it will not censure Gianni Infantino over a link to Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, and Rai faced backlash over off-air remarks about Israeli athletes.
Jutta Leerdam won the women's 1000m at the Winter Olympics 2026, clocking 1:12.31 to take gold as the Netherlands secured a 1-2 finish with teammate Femke Kok earning silver and Japan’s Miho Takagi taking bronze.
Queen Máxima, 54, has begun training to become a reserve member of the Royal Netherlands Army as the government plans to grow the military from about 80,000 to 122,000 personnel; her program covers physical resilience, self-defense, marksmanship, map reading, and military law, after which she will be commissioned as a lieutenant-colonel and could be deployed where needed. She follows Crown Princess Amalia’s recent reserve training, underscoring a broader push to bolster national security amid geopolitical tensions.
Queen Máxima has begun training to become a reservist in the Dutch army as part of a push to bolster recruitment amid European security concerns stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; she follows Crown Princess Amalia’s recent training, could be deployed as needed, and the government aims to expand the armed forces to about 122,000 personnel, reflecting broader European efforts to bolster defenses.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has begun training to become a part‑time army reservist, starting a program that combines theory and physical drills. She currently holds the rank of private and will be promoted to lieutenant‑colonel upon completion. The move underscores a national defense push and aligns with a broader trend of European royals undergoing military service, including Crown Princess Amalia.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands has joined the Royal Netherlands Army as a reservist, training at Breda and slated for promotion to lieutenant colonel. She says the move—driven by concerns that safety can no longer be taken for granted—will see her deployed where needed, and follows a broader trend of royals serving in the military amid Europe’s security jitters and renewed interest in conscription.
The Netherlands forms a new minority coalition led by Rob Jetten (D66) with CDA and VVD, outlining a consensus-driven agenda that includes a significant defense spending increase and NATO goals, housing and nitrogen reform, tighter migration policies, closer EU cooperation, and a reliance on cross-party support to pass legislation in a narrowly divided parliament.
Dutch coalition led by Rob Jetten vows to keep NATO at the core of security while pressing Europe to bolster its own defenses; Foreign Minister David van Weel says Europe must acknowledge reliance on the U.S. but aim to reduce it, as Trump’s rhetoric strains transatlantic trust. The Netherlands commits to meeting NATO’s 5% of GDP defense-spending target and pursuing force expansion toward 100,000 by 2030, with the idea of a European Security Council under discussion to deepen EU defense autonomy amid ongoing Ukraine peace efforts.
A Hague court ruled the Netherlands violated Bonaire residents’ human rights by failing to protect the Caribbean island from climate change, ordering binding greenhouse gas reduction targets within 18 months and a Bonaire-specific adaptation plan within four years.
A Hague District Court ruled that the Dutch government must draft a climate-protection plan for Bonaire within 18 months and set binding emission-reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement, finding current measures discriminatory and insufficient as sea levels and extreme weather threaten the island by 2050. It also deemed the 2030 target of a 55% cut non-binding and unlikely to be met, and the ruling could set a precedent for similar cases, though the government can appeal.
A large explosion in the Dutch city of Utrecht caused a major fire and widespread damage, with several buildings collapsing. At least four people were injured and transported to hospital as emergency services urged residents to stay away while authorities investigate the blast's cause.
A recent snowstorm in the Netherlands, a country unaccustomed to heavy snow due to climate change, has caused widespread chaos, highlighting the nation's lack of preparedness and the impacts of a warming climate on traditional winter conditions.