2LT International News

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The city that prides itself on being a beacon of peace and justice—home to institutions like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice—is being transformed into a fortress of security and inconvenience ahead of the NATO summit on June 24 and 25.

Leaders from the 32-nation alliance, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will gather in The Hague under the shadow of intensifying global tensions, particularly in the Middle East.

This summit marks a dramatic shift in the city’s usually relaxed atmosphere. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte once rode his bicycle to work, munching on an apple, during his days as the Dutch prime minister.

Now, parts of The Hague are sealed off, with streets blocked by metal fencing, parking restricted, and public transit diverted. Office workers near the summit venue have been asked to work from home.

The security operation, dubbed Orange Shield, is said to be the most extensive in Dutch history. It has disrupted daily life across the city, particularly in cultural and diplomatic areas. One example is the historic Gastrobar Berlage, located behind a prominent art museum. Once a favorite meeting spot for locals, diplomats, and tourists, it now sits largely deserted. “It’s dead,” said owner Bianca Veenhof, glancing at her empty terrace during what should have been a bustling lunch hour.

The measures are extensive and visible: temporary barricades and wire mesh fences have been put up around the World Forum, where the summit will take place. Less visible are the massive deployments—27,000 police officers and over 10,000 defense personnel have been mobilized.

Military police will escort leaders’ convoys from the airports along sealed-off highways. Frigates will patrol the nearby North Sea, F-35 fighter jets and Apache helicopters will monitor the skies, and bomb squads will sweep the summit grounds.

Drone activity is heavily restricted. Civilian drones are banned from the area, but military and police drones will operate overhead. Police are also preparing for protests, including one aiming to shut down a major highway.

Cybersecurity precautions are in place, too, though officials remain tight-lipped about the specific measures. The country’s top counterterrorism authority has only confirmed that both physical and digital protections are a priority.

The summit’s program includes a formal dinner with King Willem-Alexander at his forested palace on Tuesday evening. The following day, heads of government are expected to agree on a new defense spending target — a point of emphasis for President Trump, who wants European nations to assume more responsibility for their security. Concurrently, foreign and defense ministers will hold meetings on critical issues like the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The summit venue is near buildings housing some of the world’s leading legal institutions, including the International Criminal Court, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and European Union agencies. Ironically, it’s also near the court that tried and convicted Balkan war criminals—a testament to the city’s dual identity as a center of justice and, temporarily, of lockdown.

Many residents are choosing to leave. Veenhof and her partner, chef Bauke van Schaik, have decided to close Berlage for the week and escape to Portugal. “We’ll be a bit further away from all the misery and frustration,” she said. She estimates that the closure will cost them up to 150,000 euros in lost revenue.