At midnight on Thursday, the fences around the World Forum in The Hague will be locked as an emergency order goes into effect as part of the security measures ahead of the Nato summit next week.

Orange Shield, the name for the massive security operation, has surrounded the convention centre with five kilometres of fencing. Grocery and package deliveries cannot enter the security zone and nearby primary schools have been closed.

Even the Noordwijk Ferris wheel is considered a potential threat.

Frigates will patrol the North Sea, fighter jets and helicopters will cover the building from the air and diplomats will be escorted to the facility by military police. Nearly half the national police force, around 27,000 officers, will be on duty during the two-day event.

The final bill is estimated at €183.4 million or, according to calculations by the AD, €1 million per minute, making it most expensive Nato summit in history.

The periodic meetings of the 32 heads of state that make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation last took place in July 2024 in Washington, DC. Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, now Nato’s secretary general, pushed to have his hometown play host to a summit.

In total, around 9,000 people will be coming to the summit, including some 45 heads of state and government.

The actual core meeting itself, however, will last a mere 2.5 hours, from 10:30 am to 11 pm on Wednesday. Rutte will hold a closing press conference at 2 pm.

To ensure the safety of world leaders, The Hague has undergone a massive transformation.

The Johan de Wittlaan, which connects Scheveningen to the Hubertustunnel and the A44 towards Amsterdam, has been closed since April. Temporary offices are being constructed on the roadway for delegates and trees, street lights and traffic lights have been removed.

Some 100,000 air travellers have faced cancellations or other disruption travelling to and from Schiphol airport this month.

Slot availability at the airport has been scaled back, a situation worsened by one runway taken out of action for repairs, while another has been repurposed to park the private jets used by world leaders to reach the Netherlands.

The ANWB motoring organisation has also warned of massive delays on the roads around The Hague, with motorway closures and restricted access from the coming weekend.

President Trump

As it stands, US president Donald Trump is expected to attend the summit, as is Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky – although his presence may be limited to the official dinner hosted by the king and queen on Tuesday evening.

According to the Telegraaf, Trump’s visit is expected to involve some 1,000 American staff, including secret service agents, policy advisers, secretaries and logistical support.

Former deputy chief of staff Joseph Hagin has previously estimated that 25 US government departments are involved in presidential travel, engaging thousands of personnel.