A number of Dutch companies and aid groups have been affected by US president Donald Trump’s decision to ban people from seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the US, the Volkskrant said on Tuesday.

Aid organisation Cordaid had been planning to fly to the United Nations in New York with four women from Libya in March. ‘But that can no longer happen, which is extremely irritating,’ spokesman Paul van den Berg told the paper.

In addition, a Somalian national is about to take over as head of Cordaid’s Iraq operations. ‘It is pretty obvious that he would have to go the US as part of his job,’ Van der Berg said.

DutchNews.nl is also aware of at least one dual Dutch and Iran national whose plans to visit the US are currently on hold. The PhD student had planned to carry out research in New York.

‘This order bans many of my Iranian friends, especially those who work in academia from attending conferences, research visits, or even going back to their work although they have valid US visa,’ he told DutchNews.nl. ‘These are highly intelligent decent young engineers, doctors, researchers, faculty members and PhD students who are contributing to the society that they live in.’

Global workforce

Chip machinery maker ASML, has 46 employers in its global workforce who would be hit by the ban, including one who is currently travelling for business, the Volkskrant said.

‘We are a melting pot of different backgrounds, talents and skills,’ a spokesman told the Volkskrant. Limiting the ability of people to travel is ‘not helpful’, the spokesman said.

Employers organisations VNO-NCW and MKB Nederland said concern about the ban is widespread. ‘Terrorism must be targeted intensively but not by banning people from certain countries or religions from another country,’ a spokesman told the paper.

Unilever declined to comment on if any of its staff had been affected while Shell said it was unable to comment until after the publication of its 2016 figures because of stock-exchange regulations.