The Dutch government will not take any action following the withdrawal of Eva Vlaardingerbroek’s British travel permit. Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel responded to parliamentary questions from FVD leader Lidewij de Vos, stating that the Netherlands is not a party to the case and has no reason to request an explanation from the British government.
The UK authorities revoked Vlaardingerbroek’s electronic travel authorization (ETA) on January 13th. The notice cited that her presence
is not considered conducive to the public interest
and emphasized that the decision cannot be appealed. This ETA is required for visa-free travel to the United Kingdom.
Vlaardingerbroek herself suggested on social media that the decision was linked to her criticism of British prime minister Keir Starmer. In a post on X, she wrote:
While Orbán, Salvini and, even the U.S. State Department spoke out about my UK travel ban, the Dutch Government just came forward saying it sees no problem with the UK banning one of its citizens and is not going to take action. Always a pleasure to be able to count on one’s own government.
The case has highlighted the strict approach of UK authorities towards freedom of expression on social media. British police arrest thousands of people each year for allegedly offensive or unwanted online statements, often where no criminal offense has occurred. Legislation such as the Online Safety Act grants authorities extensive powers to regulate online communications.
Despite these developments, the Dutch cabinet has not seen a reason to review its position. Minister van Weel noted there are no signs that other Dutch citizens are facing similar entry restrictions due to social media activity. The government also does not plan to change travel advice for the United Kingdom, as no new safety risks for Dutch travelers have been identified.
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