Frequently asked questions about the NATO Summit 2025 in The Hague

The Netherlands was asked at the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania to host the 2025 summit. This is the first time since NATO’s founding in 1949 that the Netherlands is hosting a NATO Summit. Being offered the opportunity to host is a great honour and a sign that the other NATO countries value the Netherlands’ contribution to the alliance.

By organising the NATO Summit, the Netherlands can further reinforce its position as a reliable ally. In these turbulent times, in which Russia has launched a large-scale war on the European continent, the summit forms an important moment for making decisions that have a decisive impact on our peace and security and a direct effect on our prosperity.

This is the first time in NATO’s 76 years of existence that the Netherlands will be hosting a NATO summit. NATO Summits are held in a different country every year. As NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium regularly hosts meetings of NATO ministers. By taking turns to host the summit, the allied countries share the burden and extra work that goes into organising these gatherings. It is also a way for each country to demonstrate its active involvement in NATO.

The total cost of organising the 2025 NATO Summit amounts to €95 million. Provisions have been made for this in the 2024 Spring Memorandum, spread out over 2024 and 2025. The costs will be covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Generally, NATO Summits are held in a different country every year. It is customary for the host country to contribute to the organisational costs. This way, the costs are evenly divided among the member countries. It is the first time in NATO’s 75-year existence that the Netherlands will be hosting a summit.

NATO does bear responsibility for its own expenses, including hotel rooms for its own staff and security for the areas where the heads of state and government meet.

Government leaders and heads of state attend NATO Summits to underscore their commitment to Euro-Atlantic security. It is a show of unity and strength – to the world and to NATO’s opponents. The NATO Summit also offers heads of government opportunities to get to know each other personally, building shared ties and solidarity. This reinforces trust. And, in an alliance, trust between countries is essential. Finally, online discussion of critical, highly sensitive issues isn’t always possible.

The NATO Summit in the Netherlands is a unique opportunity to show how we contribute to peace and security. The Netherlands benefits from NATO, but shoulders its own responsibility as well. In addition, the Summit emphasises that cooperation and unity within NATO is essential, both for the world and for the security and prosperity of our own country. The Summit is important for three reasons:

• Strengthening peace and security
  At the Summit NATO allies will make decisions about defence, cybersecurity and new threats. These are decisions that have a direct impact on the security of the Netherlands.
• The Netherlands as a reliable ally
  By hosting a well-organised summit, we can show that the Netherlands is an active and welcoming NATO ally. This strengthens our role in international cooperation.
• Greater diplomatic visibility
  The Summit will bring world leaders, government ministers, diplomats and members of the media to the Netherlands. This gives the Netherlands more influence and benefits our partnerships with other countries. This is especially important in today’s uncertain world.

After an extensive selection process, the World Forum in The Hague was chosen as the best conference location. This location meets all the criteria for organising a summit of this size, in terms of the number of people it can accommodate, security requirements, adequate arrival and departure routes, and the number of hotel rooms available in the vicinity. The Hague has a great deal of experience in organising large-scale international conferences. Plus, The Hague is the city of peace and justice. This is perfectly aligned with the values for which NATO stands.

‘NATO and the Netherlands: a Journey’ is a travelling exhibition that will visit various Dutch cities in the run-up to the NATO Summit. The exhibition began its tour of the country in The Hague on 28 January 2025. It will continue on to other cities, including Alkmaar, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Eindhoven, Groningen, and Utrecht, before ending where it began, in The Hague.

The purpose of this tour is to engage in a dialogue with the Dutch public about NATO and about peace and security. The exhibition has been organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence with the collaboration of the Netherlands Atlantic Association, the Clingendael Institute, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and other partners.
The travelling exhibition offers a variety of activities:

• A photo exposition by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• A theatre tour and lesson programme for high schools by the Netherlands Atlantic Association
• An e-sports tournament organised by the Ministry of Defence
• School visits by veterans

Sessions about specific security-related issues such as deterrence and operations, organised by Clingendael and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies.

The National Police, the Royal Military and Border Police, Defence personnel and others will all be working together to ensure that the Summit runs smoothly and safely, without disruption, and that delegations feel welcome in The Hague. While tens of thousands of police and armed forces personnel will be deployed, they will do their best to minimise disruption for the general public. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) is responsible for coordinating the security measures.

The police will play a major role in ensuring the NATO Summit runs smoothly and safely. In view of the current global tensions and the large number of participants, this will not be an easy task. Dutch police are making arrangements with the Royal Military and Border Police, the Ministry of Defence, the NCTV and others to provide security for the Summit while also being able to continue doing their regular policing tasks.

Approximately 45 heads of state and government, 45 foreign ministers and 45 defence ministers are expected to be in attendance. The combined size of all the delegations will be around 6,000 people. In addition, a NATO Public Forum will be held in the margins of the summit. Attendance is by invitation only. The Public Forum is expected to draw some 500 people. About 2,000 journalists from around the world will be on hand to cover the summit. A total of around 8,500 people are expected to take part.

Forty-five heads of government are expected to come to The Hague for the NATO Summit. The heads of government of the 32 allies are invited to attend, and often the heads of government of partner countries are invited as well. On the grounds of security, no information will be made public about where attendees are staying.

There is no reason to assume that President Trump will not attend the Summit in The Hague.

What is the NATO Public Forum?

Parallel to the 2025 NATO Summit, there will also be a conference for stakeholders: the NATO Public Forum. At the Public Forum heads of state and government and cabinet ministers will engage in dialogue with young people, politicians, opinion makers, academics and experts about various topics related to the security of the alliance and its members. Approximately 500 people will attend the Public Forum.