King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands dined at the White House on 13 April as guests of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The royal couple stayed overnight before continuing their three-day working visit to the United States.
Why it matters
The Netherlands is a key US ally and home to ASML, the company that produces the lithography machines essential to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The visit underscores how trade and security interests are pulling European leaders toward engagement with Washington despite deep policy disagreements.
The visit
The programme spans Philadelphia, Washington, and Miami from 13 to 15 April. In Philadelphia, the King and Queen toured Independence Hall and visited the Liberty Bell, highlighting the 250th anniversary of American independence and the Dutch role in the American Revolution.
The centrepiece was the White House dinner, attended by Prime Minister Rob Jetten alongside business leaders from both countries. The agenda covered trade, technology partnerships, and defence cooperation.
The backlash
Dutch lawmakers from several opposition parties criticised the visit. Members of parliament questioned whether a formal engagement with Trump was appropriate given his recent threats to NATO allies, the ongoing Iran conflict, and tariff policies affecting European exports.
The criticism focused on the closed-door nature of the dinner and the absence of public statements on points of disagreement. Jetten’s office said the visit provided an opportunity to advocate directly for Dutch and European interests.