Cabinet opens consultation on national-security bill expanding AIVD and MIVD powers
Published · Updated
What happened
The Dutch cabinet opened consultation on a draft national-security law on 2026-08-28, and Prime Minister Jetten said on 2026-09-11 that the Netherlands' terrorism threat level stands at 4 out of 5. The proposal is designed to expand and accelerate legal powers for the AIVD and MIVD in cases involving state and terrorist threats.
Why it matters
The draft law creates a near-term policy track in which the cabinet can translate a stated threat assessment into legislative action. As the bill advances, parliament, oversight bodies and rights groups are likely to test the scope, speed and safeguards of the proposed intelligence powers.
On 28 August, the Dutch government opened a public consultation on the proposed Wet bescherming nationale veiligheid, a draft law intended to give the AIVD and MIVD faster powers against state and terrorist threats. On 11 September, Prime Minister Jetten publicly said the national terrorism threat level remains at 4 on a five-point scale, linking the proposal to a sharpened security environment. The immediate mechanism is the consultation-to-legislation route inside cabinet and parliament, with civil-liberties scrutiny likely as the text moves toward formal submission.
Watch for
Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid publication of consultation submissions or a consultation timetable update on Overheid.nl by 2026-09-20 AIVD or NCTV public note after 2026-09-17 restating or revising the terrorism threat level and linking it to legislative needs Raad van State agenda or filing notice after 2026-09-17 showing the draft Wet bescherming nationale veiligheid moving into formal advisory review Tweede Kamer commissie voor Justitie en Veiligheid publication after 2026-09-17 of a procedural meeting, roundtable, or document request on the draft law
Sources
- Wet bescherming nationale veiligheid · internetconsultatie.nl
- Terrorisme en nationale veiligheid · rijksoverheid.nl
Researched and written by AI from the sources listed, under published rules. How V³ Aware is made