Evening rush hour quietly road closures in the Randstad or not: the evening rush hour went smoothly, reports Rijkswaterstaat. According to a spokesperson there was more than 200 kilometers of traffic jams on the Dutch highways, where it is normally around 300 kilometers. This indicates that many people have listened to the call to work at home.
Rijkswaterstaat warns of a potentially busy Tuesday morning striker, which is normally very busy. The organization calls on motorists to continue to avoid the Randstad.
Demonstrating on or near the A44 is not permitted due to an emergency regulation that applies to the NATO summit. According to the police, that emergency regulation is also the reason that two journalists were arrested. “Nobody is allowed in that area, not even journalists. We understand that this is drastic, but this is also a special security operation,” the police say.
XR activists are all quite all the activists of Extincence Rebellion who were arrested this afternoon when they tried to block the deposed A44 highway were released again, the police report. Two arrested journalists from the Leidsch Dagblad who wanted to report on the promotion are also free again.
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King gets a tour of World Forum in The Hague
Defense minister Brekelmans addressed around thirty young people from Ukraine and Lithuania this afternoon in the Peace Palace in The Hague. They organized an event in which they expressed NATO their support. The minister thanked the young people for their “inspiring initiative”. “Young people from all over Europe who speak out, who get up. Who remind us that NATO is not just a treaty or a top. It’s a lifeline .”
Belgium also wants more flexibility around NATO standard not only Spain, but also Belgium and Slovakia want more room in the way it meets NATO agreements. According to the Belgian foreign minister Prévot, Belgium has been arguing for some time for a smoother interpretation of the new NATO standard. The Slovak Prime Minister Fico also emphasized today that he wants to determine “just like Spain” himself at what pace is increasing his defense spending.
In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez, Rutte announced yesterday that Spain has the freedom to take his own sovereign course when realizing the capacity objectives.
It will be the third time that Zensky has given a speech for Dutch parliamentarians. In March 2022, the President addressed the House of Representatives via a video connection. This was just a few weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The second time was in May 2023: Zelensky then came to the Senate.
The invitation of Zensky in the Lower House was an initiative of GroenLinks-PvdA. A chamber majority then agreed. Chairman Martin Bosma will also speak tomorrow.
Zelensky meets Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister Dick Schoof around the NATO summit itself. He also joins a dinner with leaders of the NATO countries.
President Zelensky will speak Dutch Parliament tomorrow the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zenskyy will address the Dutch parliament in the Lower House tomorrow just after 4 p.m. This is evident from the agenda of the Lower House. The weekly question time is canceled.
Zensky is in The Hague tomorrow because of the NATO summit. He first speaks with outgoing Prime Minister Schoof in the morning. Around 7 p.m. he is also welcome at the Huis ten Bosch Palace for a dinner with the Dutch royal couple and leaders of NATO countries. The Ukrainian president is not invited to other NATO meetings, such as meetings.
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Police arrest XR demonstrators on A44
NATO CEO Mark Rutte has once again emphasized that Russia is the biggest threat to safety because of the invasion of Ukraine. In this context, Rutte also mentions North Korea, Iran, China and Belarus, who support the Russians in different ways in the war. Read more about the press conference he held this afternoon here .
File on the A4 towards The Hague on the A4 between Amsterdam and The Hague is about 8 kilometers of traffic jams. That is because two lanes are closed because of the NATO summit. Rijkswaterstaat warns road users again to avoid motorways in the Randstad if possible.
Earlier, Rijkswaterstaat reported that road users on the A4 should drive more slowly if delegations go from the NATO summit to The Hague. That is to prevent people from riding alongside the delegations. Especially tomorrow morning, road users will notice this.
The attentive reader sees an empty ferris wheel in the background on the previous photo. The photo above shows that the gondolas of the Ferris wheel were removed one by one last week.
The Ferris wheel was seen as a too large safety risk. What that risk is exactly is not known. Possibly the gondolas limited the view or it could be a way to “get something out,” the manager of the wheel told Omroep West . From the gondolas you have a perfect view of Huis ter Duin.
Not only in The Hague has the daily life of some of the inhabitants turned upside down, adjustments are also needed in Noordwijk (aan Zee). Although the hotel is not allowed to say it, it is almost certain that the American delegation will stay in Huis ter Duin. There are deposits around the hotel and the beach behind the hotel is not available for Noordwijkers and other beach visitors.
Former President Obama stayed in the same hotel in 2014. It is one of the few places where the US President can ‘just’ land with the helicopter.
Spotter question: when can Air Force One be seen? Nu.nl-Lezers wonder when they can spot the Air Force One, the plane of US President Trump. Unfortunately we can answer that, because we don’t know either. Everything about the American delegation is kept secret, so when Trump lands exactly in the Netherlands is unknown.
Trump is expected to arrive tomorrow at the end of the afternoon or at the beginning of the evening. Then he is on time for dinner with the king and queen.
Spotters on aircraft NATO summit: ‘So far falls against’ aircraft spotters waiting at Schiphol for the many government devices that come to our country for the NATO summit, have mainly seen freight aircraft landing. “It is a bit disappointing so far. I actually expected a little more from it,” says the 22-year-old Storm Idema from Alphen in Brabant to ANP . Maik (22), who does not want to be mentioned with his last name, is also a bit disappointing. “We missed a lot.”
The two boys have been on the runways for hours a day to spot aircraft since Saturday. On day one they managed to photograph four transport aircraft of the US Air Force. Among other things, The Beast was transported, the service vehicle of US President Trump. “It was nice to spot all those military devices, but hopefully there will now be more government aircraft. From now on it will be more and more fun,” says Storm.
31 people arrested during demonstration A44 At least 31 people were arrested at the attempt of XR to block the A44 motorway, the police said. It is not known where they were brought. Nothing is known about the legal consequences, such as possible prosecution.
Agents gave the demonstrators, but also the reporters present, to leave. Who did not do that would be picked up. It is not known how many journalists are among the detainees.
Police and municipality: Pers had to leave due to emergency regulation in an emergency regulation for the NATO summit states that demonstrations are not allowed on or at the A44. On that basis, journalists were sent away when they reported on an attempt by Extinction Rebellion to block the highway. The municipality of Haarlemmermeer and the police of Noord-Holland have announced this.
A few dozen protesters tried to get on the highway from a meadow. That didn’t work. “As a competent authority, the mayor asked them to leave. The emergency regulation was also the reason that journalists had to leave there. We act under the competent authority of the mayor, we carry out,” says a police spokesperson.
There was a lot of interest in the Rutte press conference.
The Rutte press conference has ended. After his speech of about eight minutes, he took half an hour to answer questions from journalists. The Secretary General will give a number of speeches tomorrow. Wednesday afternoon, when the final statement is signed, a second official press conference will follow.
A striking statement by Rutte. According to him, the US attack on Iran is “not contrary to international law”. It seems that Rutte does not want to get Trump for the head, because the experts agree that the attack has violated the law. There was no acute threat or attack from Iran.
Iran is also discussed at the press conference. According to Rutte, the developments in the Middle East will also be a subject of discussion at the top, but he does not think that that situation will overshadow the whole top.
Rutte waved a critical question from a journalist from Al Jazeera Weg. The journalist said that Rutte Russia always calls the aggressor in Ukraine, but does not reject the American attack in Iran. “Is that not hypocritical in view of the recent US actions?”
Rutte is not afraid that other countries will follow Spain. He emphasizes that NATO does not do so-called opt-outs . According to him, Spain also has no exceptional position, because the country wants to achieve the capacity goals. The balance will be drawn up in 2029. It must then become apparent whether the Member States of the alliances are well on their way.
To cross Spain, Rutte came up with a goat path this weekend. The intention was that all NATO member states would commit to the new NATO standard of 5 percent. In addition, each country has been given capacity goals that deal with, among other things, the amount of soldiers and military means, such as artillery and air defense, which must have a country.
Spain thinks it also achieves these goals by spending 2.1 percent of his GDP on Defense, Rutte explains. But he himself thinks that the Spaniards will eventually find out that this is far too little money.
Rutte does not hide it: he calls Russia the biggest threat to safety. He also underlines that Ukraine can continue to count on support.
Rutte acknowledges that NATO also has a big challenge. It is positive that the countries want to increase their defense spending, but the industry cannot keep up with the question at the moment. He hopes that tomorrow, if there is also a meeting for those involved in the defense industry, new agreements will be made about higher production.
Rutte calls the NATO summit a historical event, because international safety is under pressure. According to the Secretary General, a new period has arrived in which higher defense spending is crucial.
Rutte prompts that it is his first NATO summit as a Secretary General, and that it is organized by the Netherlands. He finds it extra special that the top takes place in his hometown.
The first press conference of NATO chef Rutte is about to start. There are dozens of (international) journalists in the room.
Outgoing Prime Minister Schoof will receive Canadian President Mark Carney on the Catshuis tomorrow at 3.15 pm.
Rutte is not the only one who gets a tour of the World Forum. King Willem-Alexander can also take a look today.
At least two journalists arrested at the XR demonstration before the start of the demonstration of Extinction Rebellion, two journalists from ANP news agency would have been held by the police. Their car was blocked and they had to show their press card and driver’s license. Photos have also been taken of the license plate of the car. Unknown is why.
Two journalists from the Leidsch Dagblad would also have been arrested. According to the police, they did not have the required police press card with them. An ANP reporter saw that the two were fascinated in a police vehicle.
Witte Huis confirms coming Trump The White House has just confirmed that US President Donald Trump is coming to The Hague for the NATO summit tomorrow. Trump had previously indicated that he would go, but there was doubt about that after the American attacks on Iran. It is not known when the president will arrive.
Police send journalists away from action XR journalists who report on the demonstration of XR at the A44 at Abbenes have been sent away by the police. If they do not respond to that, they will be arrested. According to the police, this is a security risk area and there is a terrorist threat. The police do not say what that threat consists.
Two agents are slightly injured after the binding of Noordwijk Two agents were slightly injured when today a series of fences wings in the vicinity of Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk. A police spokesperson confirms this after reporting from news and information site Blik op Noordwijk .
Photos of the site show that dozens of fences are on the floor. They are now being put down again, the police spokesperson told ANP . The agents have been treated for a short time and now back to work.
Rutte is happy with design World Forum “What is this beautiful guys, dear,” says Rutte about the World Forum during the tour. He therefore wants to talk about the building and how it is set up for the NATO summit. He wants to deal with substantive questions about the top during the press conference that will start at 3 p.m.
In the meantime, NATO chef Rutte from outgoing Prime Minister is getting a tour of the World Forum, where the NATO summit will take place for the next two days.
The first demonstrators have been arrested, reporters from the ANP news agency.
A few protesters try to reach the A44 through the ditch between the pasture and the highway. But they are returned by police officers.
No red, but a blue carpet on the NATO summit. The blue of NATO symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean. Members of the alliance are on both sides of that ocean.
Activists XR are trying to block away between Schiphol and The Hague climate activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) try to block the deposed A44 at Abbenes, reports ANP news agency. The police are trying to prevent them from reaching the highway. The road is closed because of the NATO summit and is used to transport world leaders, ministers and delegation members from Schiphol to the top.
The action group had already announced the action. XR believes that NATO member states “should do everything to stop the worsening of the climate and ecological crisis”.
Animals take a little less closely with the rules at the closed roads in The Hague.
A car with a CD number plate (a car that drives for an embassy) this morning on the Ommedijkseweg in Leiden rode against the fences that are there because of the NATO top. Regio15 reports this. The driver says he had to divert for an oncoming car.
The police told Omroep West that it is a one -sided accident. Nobody was injured. Only the car and the fences were damaged.
Germany thinks that Trump just comes to The Hague Germany has no reason to think that Trump will not be present at the NATO summit this week, a spokesperson for the German government told Reuters news agency. “The top has been in preparation for months. NATO members have confirmed their participation. We have no reason to accept differently.”
Mark Rutte is back in a familiar place. He just met outgoing Prime Minister on the Catshuis, prior to the top that starts tomorrow.
Schoof meets Zelensky Tomorrow outgoing Premier Schoof tomorrow morning around 11.30 am, prior to the NATO top, a meeting with the Ukrainian president Zensky on the Catshuis. The Government Information Service has just reported this.
Residents Zeestraat in The Hague must pick up a newspaper in the Zeestraat in The Hague, the newspapers cannot be delivered in the coming days because of the NATO summit. The municipality has set up a newspaper bus where people can pick up a newspaper for free. The Zeestraat is closed because two important hotels are located. There is an emergency ordinance. Residents are allowed through the deposits, not deliverers.
Around the World Forum, where the top is held, there is also a newspaper point since Saturday. That area is closed off from the outside world. Only participants in the top and journalists are allowed on the site. An exception has been made for the residents. They can walk to and from their house. Bicycles and cars are not allowed.
Belgium also wants NATO’s flexibility , following Spain, Belgium also wants “maximum flexibility” of NATO to increase defense expenditure. That is what foreign minister Maxime Prévot has just said to RTBF Radio . Spain was told that the country is getting the flexibility to determine how it meets the wishes of NATO.
“We may not have done it through such a noisy statement as Spain, but I can assure you that our diplomats have been working on it for weeks to obtain flexibility mechanisms that can help alleviate the burden of Belgian effort,” says Prévot.
Quite impressive, such a military vehicle in the street.
All deposits in and around The Hague attract a lot of attention. This man records the closure of the N44 on his phone.
Traffic drives along a closure with military vehicles on the N44.
Traffic on A4 braked during transport NATO delegations Road users on the A4 must keep in mind that they must run more slowly if delegations from NATO top to The Hague are transported. Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) reports this.
The police will brake the traffic for a short time to prevent people from riding alongside the delegations. Especially during the usually busy Tuesday morning striker, the traffic will brands a lot from this, says RWS. The traffic is not stopped.
Nu.nl reader Sander sends us a photo of windsurfers in the sea near Noordwijk last night. An emergency ordinance applies during the NATO summit in the village, because the American delegation is staying there.
The beach remains largely accessible to visitors, who can also swim in the sea. Certain rules apply to, among other things, windsurfers: they are allowed to enter the sea up to 500 meters.
Rijkswaterstaat: In the coming days, will still take into account a delay Rijkswaterstaat warns road users to take into account serious traffic disruption and delay due to the NATO summit in the coming days. This morning it was fairly quiet during rush hour, probably because many people have responded to the call to work at home.
Road users are asked to keep doing that, because the serious traffic nuisance will remain in the coming days.
It was clear this morning that the morning rush hour was a lot quieter than usual.
A military vehicle blocks the A44 motorway in the direction of The Hague.
Rest at The Hague Central Due to NATO summit at The Hague Central Station, it was “very quiet” this morning according to the Dutch Railways. Many civil servants have been asked to work at home, so many people will not go to work by train in the coming days.
The Dutch Railways runs a normal timetable and do not expect great crowds in the trains.
Despite (or thanks to) NATO measures, the morning rush hour The morning rush hour runs a lot quieter than usual on Monday morning, despite the various traffic measures for the NATO summit. According to the ANWB, 223 kilometers of traffic jam was at the busiest moment. Last Monday that was 400.
“It is actually pretty smooth,” says a spokesperson for the ANWB. “It seems that quite a lot of people have responded to the call from Rijkswaterstaat to work at home.” There is normally some traffic jams between The Hague and Amsterdam, but now the traffic can drive well.
According to Spain, NATO acknowledges that 2.1 percent is sufficient NATO has acknowledged that Spain contributes sufficiently if it spends 2.1 percent of GNP on Defense. That is what Minister José Manuel Albares (Foreign Affairs) says. Albares is in Brussels, where he meets with his civil servants.
“From the start we said that the debate should not be about percentages, but about capacities,” says Albares. “We can reach the capacities with 2.1 percent and that was recognized and approved by the organization.”
Japanese prime minister let NATO-top shoot the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will not be present at the NATO summit. The Japanese broadcaster Fuji Television reports that Ishiba is not because a meeting with Donald Trump would be impossible. Japan is represented at the top in The Hague by Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
Japan is not a member of NATO, but together with, among others, South Korea and Australia, was invited as friendly countries. The Australian and South Korean leaders have also not traveled to The Hague.
The first foreign leaders arrive today in The Hague, other only tomorrow. It means that today few official things are on the program. NATO boss Mark Rutte holds a press conference at the World Forum in The Hague at 3 p.m.
Various highways have been dropped off for the transport of participants in the NATO summit. The road deposits on the photo blocks an entrance and exit at the A4.
Traffic still drives well Despite several road closures, the traffic in the first morning rush hour still drives well, the ANWB sees. In some places there is some delay, but that is mainly due to accidents that have nothing else to do with closed roads.
Due to the NATO summit, the A4, A5 and A44 are, among others, completely or partly closed. Up to and including Wednesday, according to Rijkswaterstaat, there is a chance of very serious traffic nuisance during the afternoon rush hour.
The helicopter for Donald Trump is already ready. The American president is expected to arrive in the Netherlands until Tuesday evening and will leave less than 24 hours later.
During the NATO summit, the helicopter will wear the Callsign Marine One. That is the name for every vehicle of the American Marine Corps that the president transports.
From today it will be really noticeable that the NATO summit in The Hague is coming. The first government leaders will arrive at Schiphol, which means that the area around the airport is forbidden area for anyone who has nothing to look for. The security measures are of course also large in The Hague.
Schoof counts on the arrival of Trump, despite the American attack on Iran outgoing Prime Minister Schoof, still counts on the arrival of US President Donald Trump. In the night from Saturday to Sunday, the United States carried out bombing of nuclear installations in Iran, which meant a further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
The Netherlands did not receive cancellation from Washington, Schoof said earlier today. “I assume that Mr. Trump is still coming,” said Schoof after inserted consultation of the National Security Council on the attacks on Iran. “At least, we didn’t receive a counter -message.”
Schoof does not want to say whether the top is being protected even heavier after the American attack. “A lot of safety measures have already been taken around the NATO summit. We permanently scan what is happening in the world, and of course we do that today.”
NATO countries correspond to final statement The 32 Member States of NATO have just agreed on the final statement that must be signed on Wednesday. Diplomats report this to Reuters and ANP .
According to insiders, the text of the final declaration has been adjusted in such a way that Spain, that also a long time to go along with an increased defense standard, can agree with it. The increase in that standard to 5 percent is still standing and must be the most important achievement of the NATO summit.
Evening Rush Hour Went Smoothly Whether Or Not There Were Road Closures In The Randstad Region: The Evening Rush Hour Went Smoothly, Rijkswaterstaat Reports. Accordance to a spokesperson, there were more than 200 kilometers of traffic jams on the Dutch highways at its peak, where that is normally around 300 kilometers. This indicates that many people have listed to the call to work from home.
Rijkswaterstaat Does Warn of a Potentialy