DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

24 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Dozens of Dutch citizens contact Ukrainian embassy about foreign legion

March 2, 2022
Photo: Depositphotos
Photo: Depositphotos

More than 200 people in the Netherlands have contacted the Ukrainian embassy in The Hague about joining the fighting since the Russian invasion began last week.

Honorary consul Karel Burger Dirven told Nieuwsuur that the potential volunteers included dozens of Dutch citizens, as well as larger numbers of Ukrainian and Polish nationals living in the Netherlands.

‘We’ve received e-mail after e-mail,’ he said. ‘Dutch people feel a connection and that’s heartwarming to see.’

On Sunday Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the army was setting up a foreign legion and called for ‘all citizens of the world’ to fight for ‘peace and democracy.’

One Dutch 26-year-old student told NPO Radio 1 that he was considering signing up after following the news of the invasion.

‘A criminal invasion where civilian targets are coming under fire shouldn’t be happening in this day and age,’ he said. ‘I don’t think anybody expected Putin to invade the whole of Ukraine.

‘I realise it’s a big deal to go to Ukraine and potentially pay for it with my life. I think about it a lot, but it’s serious.’

Criminal charges

Some military experts have warned that civilians who fight as volunteers in a foreign war could face charges when they return home. ‘If they go to fight, they are committing a crime,’ former commander of the armed forced Mart de Kruif told NOS.

Dutch nationals who went to join the civil war in Syria have been convicted and imprisoned, but they faced charges such as being members of terrorist organisations that would not apply to the conflict in Ukraine.

The ministry of defence told NRC that joining a foreign army was not ‘forbidden in principle’, as long as people did not fight against Dutch forces or their allies.

The law criminalising membership of a ‘foreign fighting force’ was changed in 1984 to restrict the offence of joining the armed forces of ‘a state that is involved in fighting against the Kingdom or a partnership that the Kingdom is a member of.’

Military historian Chris Klep said it was unlikely that the justice ministry would bring cases against people who fought on the side of the Ukrainians. ‘In this situation, with all the sympathy the Ukrainian regime enjoys, I think they would turn a blind eye.’

But defence minister Kajsa Ollongren has cautioned Dutch nationals against volunteering to fight in Ukraine. ‘It’s extremely dangerous,’ she said.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now