Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has resigned following a cabinet meeting that failed to approve sanctions against Israel, further destabilizing the country’s already fragile caretaker government. Veldkamp’s colleagues from the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party also walked out after Friday’s late-night debate ended in a deadlock over imposing stronger measures on Israel.
The push for further action came after the Netherlands joined 20 other nations on Thursday in signing a joint declaration condemning Israel’s plans to build an illegal settlement of 3,400 homes in the occupied West Bank. Critics warn the project would effectively split the territory in two.
In July, the Netherlands had already barred far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.
After the meeting, Veldkamp—a former ambassador to Israel—told Dutch news agency ANP that he felt unable to take meaningful additional steps. In his resignation statement, he emphasized that “we are living in a time of unprecedented geopolitical tension, where diplomacy matters more than ever.”
The NSC backed his position, accusing its coalition partners—the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB)—of refusing to acknowledge the alarming situation in Gaza and take necessary action.
Public pressure has been mounting in the Netherlands, with protests urging the government to act against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, now nearing its second year. A demonstration in The Hague in June drew between 100,000 and 150,000 participants, making it the country’s largest protest in two decades.
Veldkamp’s resignation came on the same day that UN-backed experts declared that Gaza City and its surroundings are experiencing an “entirely man-made” famine, warning that deaths could rise sharply. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which has declared only four famines since its founding in 2004, most recently in Sudan, issued the alert.
The NSC is part of a caretaker administration that has governed the Netherlands since June, when the coalition government collapsed after far-right politician Geert Wilders pulled his Party for Freedom (PVV) out of the alliance. The PVV’s withdrawal triggered an early election, scheduled for October 29.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the resignation of the Dutch foreign minister designed to be clear and helpful
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is the Dutch foreign minister that resigned
A Her name is Hanke Bruins Slot She was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands
Q Why did the Dutch foreign minister resign
A She resigned because she failed to get enough support from her governments coalition partners to impose stricter sanctions on Israel
Q What were the proposed sanctions about
A The proposed sanctions were aimed at Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been accused of violence against Palestinians They were not broad sanctions against the entire country of Israel
Q Did the Netherlands actually sanction Israel
A No the proposal did not pass The minister resigned because she could not get the governments agreement to implement these specific sanctions
Q When did this happen
A She announced her resignation on March 8 2024 after the proposal was blocked the previous day
Deeper Advanced Questions
Q Why was it so difficult for her to get support for the sanctions
A The Dutch government is a coalition made up of four parties with different views While her party supported the sanctions other parties in the coalition were concerned about appearing onesided against Israel or damaging the Netherlands relationship with Israel
Q What does this resignation say about the Dutch governments stability
A It highlights the fragility of the fourparty coalition Major disagreements on foreign policy especially on a sensitive issue like the IsraelPalestine conflict can threaten the governments unity
Q How does this affect the Netherlands position within the European Union
A The Netherlands is often seen as a strong voice within the EU This internal disagreement shows that even member states pushing for a common EU foreign policy can be hampered by their own domestic politics
Q What is the difference between national sanctions and EU sanctions
A National sanctions are applied by a single country EU sanctions require agreement from all member states and are much more powerful The minister was likely pursuing a national measure because reaching a full EU consensus on this issue is currently very difficult
Q Does her resignation mean the policy is dead
