Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte admitted to making communication "mistakes" in handling the pandemic, in an interview published Friday as his country braced for second Christmas under lockdown.

Dutch police have stepped up security for Prime Minister Mark Rutte over fears he may be targeted for kidnapping or an attack by drug gangs, local media reports said Monday.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that EU leaders may fail to reach an agreement on Sunday on a huge post-virus recovery plan for the shattered European economy.

French President Emmanuel Macron said talks on a EU coronavirus recovery fund were "advancing" Tuesday as he met Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a key holdout against the plan.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was unable to visit his dying mother in her final weeks because he obeyed coronavirus restrictions against visiting care homes, his office said Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, at State House, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday received the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte at the State House in Abuja. Both leaders and their delegation would hold talks on bilateral consultations and engage in a business roundtable. At the end of their meeting, Buhari and Rutte will address a joint press conference at the Villa.

Britain hinted Sunday that it could be open to changes to its latest Brexit proposals for Northern Ireland, as European leaders piled pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to revise the plans.

Looting is a "serious" problem on the Dutch part of the hurricane-hit island of St Martin, with troops seeking to restore order, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Friday.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte appeared to have defeated a strong challenge by his far-right rival Geert Wilders in Wednesday's key election, exit polls predicted.

Millions of Dutch voters were going to the polls Wednesday in key elections overshadowed by a blazing diplomatic row with Turkey, with all eyes on the fate of far-right MP Geert Wilders.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Sunday ruled out apologising for banning Turkish ministers from joining pro-Ankara rallies here, but said he hoped a diplomatic row could be defused.