Dutch Spy Agencies Get New Powers to Track Foreign Adversaries: What Expats Need to Know

The Dutch government has introduced a draft law that would give the country's two intelligence agencies—the AIVD (Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst, or General Intelligence and Security Service) and the MIVD (Militaire Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst, or Military Intelligence and Security Service)—significantly broader powers to track and disrupt foreign adversaries. The move, announced by the cabinet on 28 August 2026, is a direct response to what ministers describe as a fundamentally changed threat landscape.

For expats in the Netherlands, this means the bar for how the state can monitor individuals linked to foreign powers is about to shift. Here's what you need to know about the proposed changes and how they might affect you.

What’s in the draft law?

The draft law, which is now open for public consultation before going to parliament (the Tweede Kamer), would allow the AIVD and MIVD to operate without prior permission in many cases. Currently, the agencies must seek approval before following a suspect online. Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz argued that this requirement is outdated: "By then they have already gone," she told reporters, referring to hackers and spies who can vanish in seconds.

Under the new rules, once a foreign service is formally designated an "adversary"—a category expected to include Russian, Chinese, and Iranian operations—the agencies could pursue anyone believed to be working for that service. Oversight would happen after the fact, with a new independent watchdog, the Review and Oversight Council, able to halt operations it deems inappropriate.

Why now?

The cabinet says the threats have become more complex and targeted. "This law will make our knife sharper," Yeşilgöz said, echoing the government's argument that the 2017 Intelligence and Security Services Act (Wii) is no longer fit for purpose. The threat is "fundamentally different" than when that law was introduced, ministers argue.

Context for this urgency comes from recent incidents. In September, a report from Anthropic revealed that Russian hackers had used the Claude AI model to attack Ukrainian government agencies and military targets—a stark example of the technological sophistication adversaries now bring. Closer to home, the Netherlands has seen a series of railway sabotage incidents, including a pipe found on tracks near Teuge on 16 September, which ProRail believes were deliberate acts.

What does this mean for expats?

If you are an expat living in the Netherlands, the most immediate impact is likely to be on your privacy expectations. The law would force online platforms and banks to share data with the intelligence services upon request. This could affect anyone using Dutch financial services or social media, regardless of nationality. However, the government insists that safeguards remain: "The requirements for use of powers will remain high," Yeşilgöz said.

The law also includes a state-of-emergency provision for large-scale conflicts, which would allow ministers to bypass normal procedures if the Netherlands is involved in a conflict. This would require parliamentary approval, but it is a significant expansion of executive power.

Oversight and criticism

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the scope of the new powers. The government's response has been to emphasize the after-the-fact review process, with the new watchdog able to stop operations that cross the line. Yeşilgöz put it succinctly: "Putin and his cronies do not deserve our privacy, but the people of the Netherlands do."

The draft law follows the previous cabinet's abandoned plan to screen 8,000 foreign researchers and students for espionage risks, which was judged unworkable. Instead, the new approach focuses on designating adversaries and demanding cooperation from the private sector.

What’s next?

The draft law is now in a public consultation phase, during which interested parties can respond. After that, it will go to the Tweede Kamer for debate. There is no fixed timeline for passage, but the government has signalled it wants to move quickly.

For expats, the practical takeaway is to stay informed. The law could change how your data is handled by Dutch institutions and how the state interacts with foreign nationals. If you have concerns, the consultation period is an opportunity to make your voice heard—either directly or through organisations representing expat interests.

As always, the key is to balance security with the privacy that makes the Netherlands a stable and open society. The debate over this law will be about exactly that balance.