Dutch Embassy in Cairo Closes to Public Amid Protests Over Egyptian Detainee

The Netherlands Embassy in Cairo has temporarily closed its building to the public following demonstrations outside its premises, according to an official announcement by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, 22 October.

The ministry said the closure was a precautionary measure and would remain in effect until further notice. People with scheduled appointments have been or will be contacted to arrange new dates.

The embassy clarified that services provided by VFS Global in Cairo, which handles visa applications, would continue operating normally.

The protests followed the detention of Egyptian citizen Ahmed Nasser, deputy head of the Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad, in the Netherlands earlier in October. According to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Nasser was arrested on suspicion of threatening Egyptian activist Anas Habib, who had previously padlocked the gates of the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague during a protest over restrictions at the Rafah border crossing.

Nasser’s detention subsequently prompted demonstrations outside the Dutch Embassy in Cairo, where protesters demanded his release and questioned the circumstances of his arrest.

Demonstrators demanded information about the circumstances of Nasser’s arrest and his whereabouts. They also questioned what they described as unequal treatment of protesters outside the Egyptian Embassy in the Netherlands.

The detention had already prompted diplomatic discussions between Cairo and The Hague.

On Monday, 12 October, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen, requesting clarification of the circumstances surrounding Nasser’s arrest and calling for his release.

During the conversation, Abdelatty also stressed the importance of protecting the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague, citing the Netherlands’ obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires host countries to protect foreign diplomatic missions.

According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, both ministers agreed to continue consultations to address outstanding issues while maintaining relations between the two countries.

The Dutch Embassy’s announcement did not mention Nasser or provide details about any specific security incident. It also did not announce a date for reopening.

People requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Dutch authorities through the official embassy contact channels.