From the canals of Amsterdam to the halls of The Hague, the Netherlands has broken its silence. In response to the U.S. nuclear missile strike on Iran, Dutch voices across politics, religion, media, and civil society have united in condemnation of what they call a “catastrophic violation of international law and human morality.”

“This is not a matter of geopolitics—it is a matter of humanity.
The Netherlands cannot look away while a nation is attacked with nuclear force,”
stated the Dutch Council for Peace and Justice.

1. Dutch History and Ethical Responsibility

As a nation that endured Nazi occupation and rebuilt its identity on human rights, justice, and democratic values, the Netherlands views nuclear warfare as an unacceptable crime.

The lessons of history—particularly the horrors of World War II—have made the Dutch people sensitive to acts of mass violence and state-sponsored terror. The bombing of Tehran has sparked immediate comparisons to past European tragedies and atrocities.

2. A Longstanding Relationship with Iran

The Netherlands and Iran have maintained diplomatic relations for over 150 years. Dutch trade with Iran has spanned sectors like oil, agriculture, education, and humanitarian work.

More importantly, academic and cultural exchanges have long flourished between the two countries. Iranian students study in Dutch universities, and Dutch scholars frequently publish research on Persian literature, Islamic art, and Middle Eastern history.

This shared cultural respect only deepens Dutch heartbreak at the violence inflicted on Iranian civilians.

3. Dutch Public Reaction: Outrage and Empathy

Within hours of the nuclear strike, protests erupted in cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam, with thousands carrying placards reading:

• “Not in Our Name”

• “Iran Bleeds, the World Watches”

• “From Hiroshima to Tehran—Never Again!”

Churches across the country held prayer services. Imams, rabbis, and pastors issued a joint interfaith condemnation calling the act “an offense to all religious, ethical, and civil traditions.”

The hashtag #NetherlandsWithIran trended across Dutch social media, with Dutch citizens posting videos of solidarity in both Farsi and Dutch.

4. Government Response and Legal Pushback

The Dutch Parliament held an emergency session in which multiple parties:

• Denounced the nuclear bombing of Iran as “a reckless and illegal use of force”

• Urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to initiate proceedings

• Called on the European Union to issue economic and diplomatic responses

• Pushed for a special investigation under the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Legal scholars from Leiden and Utrecht universities began drafting formal complaints to submit to UN bodies and international courts, arguing for universal jurisdiction on nuclear crimes.

Conclusion

The Netherlands may be small in size, but it wields one of the world’s strongest legal and moral voices. And now, that voice speaks clearly:

“We stand with Iran—not as enemies of any nation,
but as protectors of what must never be allowed:
A world where nuclear weapons are deployed against civilians.
We stood up after Auschwitz. We stood up after Srebrenica.
And today, we stand up after Tehran.”