Netherlands temporarily closes Cairo embassy over Egyptian's detention
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- Demonstrators outside the embassy demanded the release of Egyptian youth leader Ahmed Nasser, detained in the Netherlands.
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty requested Nasser's release and urged Dutch protection for Egypt's embassy in The Hague.
- VFS Global services remain operational, appointment rescheduling is underway, and emergency consular hotline assistance remains active.
The Netherlands has temporarily closed its embassy building in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, to the public amid ongoing demonstrations outside the premises, the diplomatic mission announced on Thursday.
In an official statement published on its Facebook page, the embassy confirmed that the Dutch Foreign Ministry ordered the temporary closure as a precautionary measure until further notice.
"As a precautionary measure, the Netherlands Embassy building in Cairo is closed to the public until further notice," the mission stated.
The embassy indicated that individuals with scheduled appointments have been or will soon be contacted regarding rescheduling.
It clarified that the temporary public closure will not impact consular services provided by VFS Global in Cairo, and advised those requiring urgent consular assistance to reach out via its emergency hotline.
Demand release of Ahmed Nasser
The precautionary closure follows protests staged outside the Dutch Embassy in Cairo last week.
According to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News television channel, dozens of Egyptian demonstrators gathered outside the mission demanding the release of Ahmed Nasser, deputy head of the unofficial Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad, following his detention in the Netherlands.
On Oct. 13, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a call with his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen, urging the Dutch government to ensure full protection for the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague, citing the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the principle of reciprocity.
During the discussion, Abdelatty requested formal clarification regarding the legal grounds of Nasser's detention in the Netherlands and called for his prompt release.
The exchange followed the viral circulation of social media videos depicting an Egyptian national holding signs critical of Egyptian authorities in the presence of Dutch police officers.
According to Egypt's Foreign Ministry, both foreign ministers agreed to resolve the outstanding issues while maintaining friendly bilateral relations.
