Dutch tighten travel advisories after Iran attacks; Flights canceled, embassies close
The Netherlands on Sunday sharply tightened travel warnings across the Middle East after Israel and the United States launched military strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks across the region, prompting flight cancellations, embassy closures, and urgent guidance for Dutch nationals trying to leave. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has received hundreds of calls from Dutch nationals seeking advice on leaving the region.
In The Hague, a demonstration against the Iranian regime on Saturday shifted into a celebration after unconfirmed reports circulated that Ali Khamenei, Iran’s longtime supreme leader, had been killed in the Israeli and U.S. strikes. At the Malieveld, demonstrators danced, embraced, and chanted “Iran, Iran, Iran,” an ANP reporter observed. The reports have not been verified. Anonymous sources told Israeli media there are “increasing signs” that Khamenei may be dead. Israel has said he was a target of the attacks, but it remains unclear whether he was present when his compound was hit.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised its travel advice to orange—travel only if absolutely necessary—for all of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. The advice for almost the entire United Arab Emirates was also raised to orange, while the islands of Abu Musa and Tunb were designated red, meaning all travel is strongly discouraged. The ministry's information service notified Dutch nationals in those countries.
The ministry also issued a full red travel advisory for Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories, citing an unpredictable and rapidly deteriorating security situation.
“Whatever your situation, do not travel there,” the ministry said. Parts of Israel and the Palestinian territories, including the Golan Heights and the Gaza Strip, had already been under a red advisory, as were some areas of Lebanon. Iran has been under a red travel advisory for years.
The warnings follow exchanges of attacks between Israel and Iran on Saturday, after Israel and the United States struck targets in Iran. Iran responded with missile attacks across the region, including strikes aimed at Israel and at countries hosting U.S. assets. According to the Dutch government, the escalating violence has made the regional security situation highly volatile.
Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said Iran must halt its attacks on neighboring countries. “The cabinet has serious concerns about the risk of broader regional escalation and the impact this conflict has on the security of regional partners, including the Gulf states,” he said in a statement. Berendsen called on all parties to return to negotiations, noting that Iran and the United States had recently held talks in Oman.
The Dutch embassies in Tehran and Kuwait City remained closed to the public on Sunday as a precautionary measure following the strikes and subsequent Iranian retaliation. Diplomatic work reportedly continued behind the scenes. People with appointments, particularly for visas to travel to the Netherlands, were informed that their appointments would be rescheduled.
KLM said it would again suspend flights from Dubai to the Netherlands on Sunday, after canceling the route Saturday because of the attacks. Passengers stranded in Dubai were offered hotel accommodations for both Saturday night and Sunday night. “We continue to monitor the situation,” a KLM spokeswoman said, adding that it remains unclear when flights can resume.
A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Riyadh and Dammam scheduled for Sunday was also canceled. Passengers were informed and will be rebooked when possible. A Sunday evening flight from the Netherlands to Dubai was still on the schedule, but the airline said a final decision would be made later. KLM said it is currently avoiding the airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Israel, as well as several countries in the Gulf region.
TUI, the travel company, reported that nearly 300 Dutch travelers found themselves stranded in the Middle East. The company has canceled all trips to Dubai and Qatar through Monday, a measure that will remain in effect as long as the Dutch travel advisory for those destinations stays orange. TUI said it is working to return stranded travelers to the Netherlands as soon as possible.
Reports of possible civilian casualties in Iran added to concerns among the Iranian diaspora in the Netherlands. Pejman Akbarzadeh, chairman of the Persian Dutch Network, said it was “hard to believe” reports from Israeli sources that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may have been killed. Iran has not confirmed the claim.
“I hear the same from everyone: it is challenging to believe,” Akbarzadeh said. “This man is responsible for the killing of thousands of people in Iran. We feel relief, but it also makes some people angry. They believe he should have stood trial and gone to prison.”
Legal scholar Afshin Ellian, a member of the Committee Iran Free, wrote on X: “We are crying and laughing. He had tens of thousands of unarmed people killed. We are speechless.” He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group wrote separately, "A free Iran is getting closer.”
Meanwhile, Dutch civil society groups voiced sharp criticism of the military action. The New Peace Movement, a platform that includes Stop Wapenhandel, Kerk en Vrede, and XR Justice Now!, called the Israeli and U.S. attacks “unacceptable,” describing them as a further erosion of international law and a major threat to security in the Middle East and beyond. The group urged the Dutch government to distance itself from what it called “this violation of international law."
