The only Dutch book to successfully overturn a full book ban:
Now freely downloadable worldwide
A general sporting three stars on his sleeve, sending a private spy to snoop around a private firm. And this is not just anyone: it’s the general’s own wife. A tribal war within the Dutch Military Intelligence Service, with unsuspecting citizens being victimised. You’d expect that in Pyongyang, not in the Dutch polders. However, this is what author Edwin Giltay experienced—he vividly describes the saga in The Cover-up General (Dutch: De doofpotgeneraal ).
In his book, Giltay depicts the rather transparent conduct of secret service agents infiltrating the internet provider where he worked. Initially, a spook tried to recruit Giltay as a military analyst. At the same time, however, she herself was being monitored. At the root of this tug-of-war within Dutch Military Intelligence was the infamous film roll of Srebrenica depicting war crimes, which was misdeveloped by the Dutch Armed Forces. The recruiting officer who approached Giltay wanted to make public that the photos had by no means failed—information that would no doubt have undermined the standing of a certain triple-star general.
The Cover-up General delineates this espionage scandal and serves as a factual testimony of how this secret cover-up operation spun out of control. Infuriating two high-ranking former military officers, the book was banned after objections from military intelligence circles. However, the Court of Appeal of The Hague ruled that its accuracy was not in doubt and annulled the book ban. Moreover, the Court of Appeal affirmed the importance of the publication for the societal discourse on Srebrenica.
All these developments are set out in the
free English edition.
Download and share it freely—as a protest against censorship!
The Cover-up General by Edwin Giltay
English editor: Michael Wynne
The Hague, The Netherlands: 2025
292 pages, with colour illustrations
Launch English edition
Watch how Edwin Giltay launches his ‘forbidden’ book worldwide in the Banned Books Museum in Tallinn.
Timeline
2014
Publication
2015
Censored
2016
Ban lifted
2023
Ombudsman fined
2024
English translation
Launch English edition
Watch how Edwin Giltay launches the international edition of his ‘forbidden’ book worldwide in the Banned Books Museum in Tallinn.
Voice
The following quotes about The Cover-up General form a mosaic of voices that weaves a powerful story about transparency and justice. These factual and verified quotes are drawn from judicial rulings, official documents, media reports, and testimonies from survivors and prominent figures. Forming a chorus of authentic perspectives, they expose the layered complexity of this shocking cover-up and call for confronting a dark chapter in Dutch history: the UN mission in Srebrenica (1995), where more than eight thousand Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) were murdered, and the suppression of evidence of Dutch failure in this genocide.
The seventy quotes from voices in ten countries highlight the abuses in intelligence operations where secrecy clashes with transparency, a grey area that requires strict control mechanisms. Divided over twelve sections, the quotes confront the Dutch Ministry of Defence with its role in this affair, culminating in a judicial triumph against both a book ban and gag order. The sections partly follow a chronological thread to sketch the historical development. Supported by direct links to evidence—check them yourself or with AI—they also underscore the international significance. This relevance not only explains the English translation of The Cover-up General and the global publicity, but also emphasizes the duty to handle this sensitive topic with care.
Note: These quotes outline the affair surrounding Edwin Giltay’s book The Cover-up General, which deals with a Dutch cover-up operation around evidence of war crimes. Srebrenica plays a role in it, albeit not as the main subject. Key terms: MID (Military Intelligence Service), MIVD (the successor to the MID), and CTIVD (supervisor of intelligence services). The initials B.O. anonymize a MID official due to a previous commitment; following her death in 2024, this anonymity is less necessary. Quotes from Dutch and other non-English sources are translated here into English, faithful to the originals.
False Psychiatrization
From ‘unbreakable’ to ‘completely insane’: how the Dutch Ministry of Defence silences whistleblowers.
“Strong personality”
drs. P. van der Pol, Ministry of Defence psychologist, rejecting Edwin Giltay during a job screening owing to a character deemed too strong to break under the drill sergeants (1998)—a dubious assessment for the Ministry that was later revised in official documents
Frank de Grave, Minister of Defence, on Edwin Giltay, after he reported abuses, in an official, never retracted position signed by De Grave’s highest official (1999), in direct contradiction with the earlier assessment of a “strong character”
“Further letters from you on the same matter will be received for acknowledgement only.”
Reinier van Zutphen, National Ombudsman, refuses to retract the public ombudsman report from 1999 in which De Grave’s declaration of insanity was included unchallenged
“The wrongful psychiatrization of those who report misconduct is a recurring phenomenon. That is policy, and the Minister of Defence does nothing to stop it.”
Victor van Wulfen, fighter pilot who was himself falsely declared insane by the Ministry of Defence
Source:dedoofpotgeneraal.nl/doc/persbericht.pdf (Quote provided via direct message on X, 10 September 2017) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“In recent years, I have increasingly observed the government deploying incorrect and unlawful medical assessments to muzzle its personnel.”
Roger Vleugels, freedom of information specialist
Source:dedoofpotgeneraal.nl/doc/persbericht.pdf (Quote provided via email, 11 September 2017) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“I did not dismiss my most senior civil servant [who had signed the declaration of insanity on my behalf]. I did not replace the top team. It was a terrible dilemma. Even now, I’m not sure if I made the right call.”
Frank de Grave, former Minister of Defence, reflecting in his autobiography (2018)
Source:Grote jongen zijn. Amsterdam: Boom, pp. 109โ113. (๐ณ๐ฑ)
Gaslighting
Denial of reality by the Ministry of Defence: what is fact and what is fiction?
“Edwin Giltay was dismissed by [cable and internet provider] Casema after only three days due to annoying and maladjusted behaviour.”
Frank de Grave, Minister of Defence, in his position based on an interrogation of B.O., a dismissed military intelligence officer who also worked at Casema
“Edwin Giltay worked to our complete satisfaction at Casema from 8 June 1998 to 27 July 1998.”
Temp agency Randstad, official recommendation (1999), uses the contract end date and confirms that it is Giltay’s employer, which means that dismissal by Casema was impossible in the first place, in direct contradiction to De Grave’s position
“I kindly request you to cease your correspondence, as the National Ombudsman has deemed your complaints regarding this matter unfounded. No further response will be given to additional letters from you.”
Frank de Grave, Minister of Defence, does not rectify and does not respond substantively to Giltay’s letters (2000)
“There has indeed been an investigation. It is so clear to us that there is no reason to revisit it.”
Ministry of Defence (2017), in response to Giltay’s claims in the current affairs TV programme Hart van Nederland, with 258,000 viewers according to KijkOnderzoek
Ank Bijleveld, Minister of Defence (2018), does not rectify, refuses to respond substantively, and accuses Giltay in the media of taking liberties with the facts
The ‘failed’ Srebrenica film roll: lost in a web of intrigue and internal conflict.
“I had the privilege of reading Giltay’s manuscript of The Cover-up General and it made my hair stand on end. ‘This won’t be appreciated,’ I commented, adding: ‘Watch out for repercussions!’ I fear there has been some serious lying at the highest levels.”
“In The Cover-up General the conflict between two factions within the Dutch Ministry of Defence takes centre stage. One side wanted to destroy at all costs the incriminating Srebrenica film roll showing crimes, while the other sought to make it public.”
Radio Televizija Srbije, the Serbian public broadcaster
“The book The Cover-up General quotes a Military Intelligence Service (MID) employee who in 1998 highlighted that the photos had not failed and were being withheld.”
Marco Gerritsen and Simon van der Sluijs, lawyers for Mothers of Srebrenica, in their memorandum of appeal against the Dutch State (2015), about officer B.O.
“Every time government information goes missing, everyone immediately shouts: ‘See, just like that film roll’. Why can’t the government simply be open? It’s important that this riddle is solved once and for all.”
Brenno de Winter, investigative journalist, on The Cover-up General
Source:dedoofpotgeneraal.nl/doc/leidschdagblad.pdf (excerpt from the Leidsch Dagblad ) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“Making the film roll public immediately, with the message that it couldn’t be stopped anyway, would have been better. This is a farce.”
former senior Defence spokesperson, in a confidential conversation at Edwin Giltay’s home (2020), in the presence of third parties including a journalist
“Far more important is the lost fax with 239 names of Muslim men.”
prof. Joris Voorhoeve, former Minister of Defence and professor of international relations, in a response to Giltay’s book, about yet another missing piece of Srebrenica evidence, which makes the failure even graver
Source:dedoofpotgeneraal.nl/doc/vanrossum.pdf (screenshot of Facebook post) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
Total Ban
A unique ban on publication and speaking: how one spelling mistake triggered the total prohibition.
“A former MID employee is demanding compensation from author Edwin Giltay in summary proceedings, plus a rectification. ‘My client slept badly after reading the book,’ says her lawyer. ‘There’s not a jot of truth in it!’”
Leidsch Dagblad (2015), about officer B.O. who in 1999 had characterized Giltay as “completely insane, annoying and maladjusted”
“Orders the defendant to refrain from further distribution, publication and/or reprints of The Cover-up General ... and to refrain from promoting the book at lectures, book presentations and other public utterances.”
The Hague District Court (2015), de facto prohibiting Giltay from criticising the Srebrenica cover-up and defending himself against his false psychiatrization
“The Dutch court has explicitly forbidden him from promoting his book or communicating with the media, which is unprecedented in the recent history of the ‘land of tulips’.”
Dnevni Avaz, Bosnian daily newspaper, about Giltay’s unprecedented ban (under penalty of โฌ 1,000 per day)
“The court banned the book due to incorrect personal details of a former spy [B.O.] and lack of right of reply. The fact is, however, that she could not be traced because she varied the spelling of her name—a spy’s trick.”
Freedom of Expression for Beginners, blog post based on the censorship ruling
“The chilling effect of this is that authors no longer dare to publish for fear that even a single passage could lead to a ruling banning an entire book. Giltay even had to take his entire website offline.”
Boekx Advocaten, Giltay’s writ of summons in appeal
Source:dedoofpotgeneraal.nl/doc/boekx.pdf (excerpt from the summons) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“The Cover-up General is a sobering eye-opener about what the Ministry of Defence and the Dutch State are capable of.”
Jolies Heij, writer and Srebrenica activist (2023)
Source: Quote approved in personal conversation, 5 August 2023. (๐ณ๐ฑ)
Legal Victory
The overturned ban: recognition of Giltay’s meticulous research.
“I hereby grant you dismissal effective January 1, 1998.”
Henk van Hoof, State Secretary of Defence, dismisses MID officer B.O., who infiltrated Casema in June 1998, retroactively on November 3, 1998, thereby washing his hands of this controversial operation with the stroke of a pen
B.O., former MID officer, denying her Casema infiltration during the appeal hearing in court (2016) as described in The Cover-up General
Source:web.archive.org/web/20160420153457/tptv.nl/2016/04/11/rechter-beslist-over-lot-verboden-boek/ (see report 1) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“Assistant department Intell MIVD, Department of Defence: May 1995—December 1998”
Public LinkedIn profile of B.O. (still online, preserved as a memorial profile since 2024), thereby betraying herself as the right-hand woman in the espionage department of the MIVD, the successor to the MID
Source:https://bit.ly/3J1sLMn (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“I was present at the trial. The MID lady [B.O.] provided no shred of evidence for her claim that what Giltay writes about her is made up.”
“The Cover-up General may once again be distributed. There is no doubt about the accuracy with which Edwin Giltay has written it. Moreover, it concerns matters of public relevance, such as the MID and the Srebrenica film roll.”
The Hague Court of Appeal, lifting both the book ban and the speaking ban: a unique ruling (2016)
“The Dutch State is liable for 30 percent of the damages suffered by the relatives of circa 350 Bosnian Muslims.”
Court of Appeal of The Hague (2017), rules that the Netherlands bears joint liability for the death of hundreds of Srebrenica victims—The Cover-up General
was cited as one of the many sources in this landmark case
Politics intervenes: a unanimous chamber call forces the Ministry of Defence to give account.
“Reality turns out to be stranger than the wildest conspiracy theory. The Cover-up General proves that anything is possible, even in the Netherlands, including threats.”
Willem Middelkoop, international bestselling author and journalist, on the bizarre reality of disruption measures such as psychological intimidation by intelligence services, as described by Giltay
“Reading tip! The book about deploying secret agents and the Dutchbat III film roll was first banned by the court, yet now released so everyone can read what actually happened in the Netherlands.”
“Is this Kafka? I would like the entire Srebrenica story to come to light one day. If the government then also is open about this story, that would be a fine side benefit.”
Hans Laroes, former editor-in-chief of NOS and author of the epilogue to The Cover-up General
“Mr Giltay has written an impressive book about his experiences. Many MPs agree with me that the Minister of Defence owes him a proper answer.”
Sadet Karabulut, Member of Parliament (2017), prior to the unanimous decision of the parliamentary Defence Committee that the minister had to respond
Source:vimeo.com/462739433?texttrack=en (excerpt from Hart van Nederland ) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
Official Positions
A striking ministerial divide: denial at the Ministry of Defence, recognition at the Ministry of Justice.
“On behalf of H.M. the Queen, I inform you that the Queen has received your letter of 14 October and has placed it in the hands of the Minister for consideration…”
mr. N. van de Pol, director of the Cabinet of the Queen, on behalf of Queen Beatrix (2000): early escalation to head-of-state level with forwarding of Giltay’s complaints about the MID
“Your MIVD complaint has been declared unfounded following investigations by the CTIVD supervisory committee and the National Ombudsman. I consider your case closed.”
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Minister of Defence, rejects Giltay’s rehabilitation request (2017), citing an alleged CTIVD investigation and an ombudsman report with claims undermined by The Hague Court of Appeal (2016)
“The CTIVD supervisory committee has not handled any complaint from you against the MIVD. Hence, there is no CTIVD report.”
General Onno Eichelsheim, MIVD director and now Chief of the Armed Forces, refuting the existence of the inquiry behind which his minister is hiding (2017)
“This book is characterised by a highly readable style. ... The theory about the film roll, however, is improbable, and what the author means by ‘psychiatrization’ is unclear.”
Dr Klaas Dijkhoff, Minister of Defence, criticizing Giltay’s meticulousness in a parliamentary letter (2017), while The Hague Court of Appeal precisely praised it
Ank Bijleveld, Minister of Defence, publicly acknowledging Giltay’s military acuity in a tweet in an international context, regarding a trivial detail (2018)—a paradoxical contrast to the never-revoked Defence position from 1999 branding him as “completely insane”
“The passage [warning against fake news] is not based on your book The Cover-up General.”
Dr Ferdinand Grapperhaus, Minister of Justice and Security, denies that the book is “subversive” and further states in response to Giltay’s question that it โin no wayโ should be regarded as fake news (2021), a refutation of Defence’s allegations
While the government does not speak with one voice, the book reads like pure suspense.
“It evokes the atmosphere of Graham Greene’s famous Our Man in Havana. But set in Delft, in the offices of an internet provider …”
Dr Christ Klep, military historian and author of Somalia, Rwanda, Srebrenica, compares The Cover-up General to a spy classic
Source: Quote approved by email, 17 August 2014. (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“I’m reading the book with bated breath. It feels like fiction, so bizarrely thrilling and worrying at the same time. I keep falling from one astonishment to the next!”
Dr Lenneke Sprik, lecturer in international security and expert in UN peacekeeping operations
“Spies, state secrets and incriminating video footage form the core of the epic thriller The Cover-up General.”
ะะฝะธะถะฝัะน ะฒะฐะณะพะฝ (Book Wagon), Russian books community on VKontakte, referring to the espionage intrigues in the book (which also features sting operations)
“Cover-ups, censorship and the shadow of a genocide that might have been preventable. The ingredients of a thriller are all there, except that the author, Edwin Giltay, had to invent nothing.”
“It reads like a thriller, but it’s all true, backed by documents. It’s time the Ministry of Defence came clean, told the truth and, more importantly, showed it—through the photos.”
“Spies are accustomed to taking liberties with reality and massaging it.”
Colonel (ret.) Charlef Brantz, former UN commander who stood directly above the Dutchbat III battalion during the Srebrenica mission, on Giltay’s obstruction by B.O.
Source:novi.ba/clanak/64484/sud-u-haagu-skinuo-zabranu-sa-cenzurisane-knjige-o-srebrenici (Quote approved by email, 29 July 2015.) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
Glowing Reviews
From professor to press: acclaim for a meticulous account of the deadly serious affair.
“Meticulously written and well documented.”
Prof. Jan Pronk, former Minister for Development Cooperation, who took political responsibility for the failure of the Dutch UN mission in Srebrenica
Source: Quote approved by email, 31 July 2014. (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“It is beyond doubt that The Cover-up General makes an important contribution to documenting the genocide in Bosnia.”
Prof. Mohamed Alsiadi, genocide and human rights expert at Rutgers University, USA, seeing value in the Dutch revelations about Srebrenica (2025)
“High-ranking officials try to clear their names, but are nailed to the pillory by their own bungling. If it weren’t such a deadly serious matter, the reader might take it for a masterful joke. Even the most average Boy Scouts’ club would probably handle it better.”
“Edwin Giltay describes in detail how rotten our intelligence services are, covered up by the Ministry of Defence, the National Ombudsman and compromised ministers in the chain. In other words: the intelligence services dissected, the government unmasked. Incorrect data does not absolve them of the duty to pursue serious truth-finding.”
“Srebrenica still causes controversy today. A Dutch book banned 10 years ago tells another side of the story. What is its account?”
Al Jazeera Documentary, photo documentary on The Cover-up General on Instagram and Facebook (2025)
Source:instagram.com/p/DIv9OX1O7k3/ (๐ถ๐ฆ)
Global Impact
How Giltay’s story resonates worldwide, from Sarajevo to The Hague.
“Hereby, I give you a Srebrenica flower.”
Munira Subaลกiฤ, chair of the Mothers of Srebrenica and prominent survivor-activist for genocide justice, presented Edwin Giltay, author of The Cover-up General, with a rosette as a commemorative symbol of the genocide (2017)
Source: Personal meeting with Subaลกiฤ at the Palace of Justice in The Hague, following introduction by journalist Naida Ribiฤ, 27 June 2017. (๐ง๐ฆ)
“I want to read The Cover-up General in English.”
ฤamil Durakoviฤ, Srebrenica genocide survivor and now vice-president of Republika Srpska, whose request inspired Giltay to translate his book (2017)
Source: Personal meeting with Durakoviฤ in Srebrenica, following introduction by documentary maker Omer Edo Hadroviฤ, 12 July 2017. (๐ง๐ฆ)
“Heartfelt thanks. I would very much like to see a Bosnian translation of The Cover-up General.”
Mirsada ฤolakoviฤ, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon receiving the second edition at the embassy (2018)
“Giltay reveals matters that cannot withstand the light of day, and also answers the question: who is the general keeping the lid on this cover-up? Given the ongoing lawsuits and investigations in the aftermath of the Srebrenica drama, this book is undoubtedly of current relevance.”
Onafhankelijke Defensie Bond, Dutch military trade union
“It is inconceivable that such a carefully documented and thoroughly researched book is banned. Notably, Giltay sent his manuscript to the Minister of Defence in advance, who raised no objections.”
Caspar ten Dam, conflict analyst and Srebrenica expert
“And yet, the most impressive thing about you is that you didn’t give up. That makes you brave.”
Philip Drรถge, bestselling author and investigative journalist, upon receiving the 2nd revised edition (2016), on Giltay’s perseverance, made all the more bitter due to the ban on speaking about his own life experiences
Source:vimeo.com/465911601 (excerpt from Salto TV broadcast) (๐ณ๐ฑ)
“The contested decision is unlawful. The respondent must now decide on the Woo request.”
The Hague District Court, condemning the national ombudsman for unlawfully blocking Giltay’s Woo request (for disclosure of government documents) regarding this military intelligence affair (2023)
“The court finds that the respondent failed to decide on the request in time. The appeal is upheld.”
The Hague District Court, in a ruling imposing a coercive fine on the ombudsman for again blocking Giltay’s information requests (2023)—his second consecutive victory over the institution that publicly branded him “completely insane”
“The Cover-up General is a very rare example in our collection of an author who successfully challenged a book ban.”
Banned Books Museum, Tallinn, on the launch of the English translation as a free
international PDF (2024), funded
with the coercive fines that the ombudsman personally had to pay Giltay
Source: Quote approved by email, 16 April 2024. (๐ช๐ช)
Aftermath
From royal recognition to ministerial silence: the call for Srebrenica’s truth remains unanswered
“A former Casema employee reveals espionage activities by the military intelligence service aimed at suppressing evidence of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia.”
Royal Library, catalogue description of The Cover-up General
Ank Bijleveld, Minister of Defence (2018), in a response to the Court of Appeal of The Hague which lifted the ban on the book and praised its meticulousness—resulting in ongoing silence about truth and rehabilitation for the more than 8,000 murdered Muslims
The victory over both the book ban and gag order sets a crucial precedent in Dutch literary history. While earlier Dutch writers like Multatuli—whose masterpiece Max Havelaar (1860) exposed colonial abuses—triumphed over targeted attacks on specific passages, Edwin Giltay stands alone: as jurisprudence and newspaper archives confirm, he is the only one to have overturned a full book ban in the Netherlands. Even internationally, this is highly exceptional. This case connects very modestly to the historic lineup of the American Pentagon Papers (1971) and the British Spycatcher (1988), where only the lifting of the ban on The Cover-up General was accompanied by judicial praise for factual accuracy. The Banned Books Museum in Tallinn, which collects suppressed books from around the world, sums it up aptly: “a very rare example of an author who has successfully challenged a book ban.”
In a country with a strong tradition of free press, this ruling exposes the state’s cover-up mentality through the detailed revelations in this book, from honey traps to missing evidence. This precedent-setting ruling has thereby unleashed a wave of international recognition—a call for transparency and justice in the aftermath of Srebrenica. Thus, more than 400 publications in print media, on radio, television, and through online channels have brought it to the attention of an estimated 10 million people worldwide.
Read more about this estimate
This rough estimate is based on the combined readership and viewership figures over the years from major outlets such as, among others, Al Jazeera Balkans, Al Jazeera Documentary, Dnevni Avaz, NOS and Nu.nl, supplemented by publications on numerous lesser-known online platforms, blogs, and social media worldwide. Below is a selection of the most important media coverage:
This wave of coverage, from Brazil to Indonesia, is remarkably broad and strengthens the call for state accountability. The media attention moreover confronts the Defence Ministry with inevitable reputational damage due to its refusal to address this cover-up affair. Even a Dutch book about its intelligence operations linked to the genocide is being intensely discussed internationally—a powerful signal of the universal rejection of censorship, and an expression of the urgent need for truth regarding Srebrenica. This collective demand for justice urges the Defence Ministry to show courage: acknowledge your mistakes in this matter as a step towards transparency and reconciliation.
Auteur
Edwin Giltay is the only Dutch author who has successfully overturned a complete book ban. Globally, his case is highly exceptional: the ban was overturned with explicit judicial praise for the factual accuracy of his work โ a rare precedent in modern censorship history. Moreover, he was the only one in the Netherlands to also lift a simultaneous speaking ban.
Born in The Hague in 1970, Giltay began his career as a technical writer for IBM, later working for Deloitte. Unexpected experiences provided insight into the world of intelligence services and their ethical dilemmas. Focusing on justice for the victims of Srebrenica, in his book The Cover-up General (2014), he revealed a Dutch military espionage operation set up to suppress evidence of its role in the 1995 genocide.
Journalists, veterans, and relatives have been contributing to a broader societal debate on this issue for years. Nevertheless, Giltayโs revelations faced fierce resistance from intelligence circles, which tried to silence him as early as 1998, when he first raised questions. For example, the Dutch state, in an official report, unjustly labelled him ‘completely insane’ to divert attention, thereby involuntarily drawing him into the affair. The obstruction did not break Giltay: the setbacks rather challenged him to unmask the intelligence machineries.
Despite unfounded accusations, personal intimidation, and even professional reprisals, including a speaking and book ban, Giltay stood firm. In 2016, this determination was rewarded: the Court of Appeal of The Hague lifted both bans and stated unequivocally that The Cover-up General โfinds sufficient support in the factsโ. This legal recognition not only restored Giltayโs right to speak, but also affirmed the investigative integrity of his work. The Banned Books Museum in Tallinn thus later showcased it as โa very rare example in our collection of an author who successfully challenged a book ban.โ More importantly, in 2017, the Court of Appeal made another groundbreaking ruling. In a lawsuit brought by the Mothers of Srebrenica, in which the book was cited alongside numerous other pieces of evidence, the Dutch state was found partially liable for the tragic death of approximately 350 Srebrenica victims.
Over the past thirty years, Giltay has contributed as an editor to dozens of books, ranging from software manuals to geopolitical non-fiction. The Cover-up General, discussed globally from Brazil to Indonesia, fuels the debate on Srebrenica and the Dutch intelligence services. This ongoing relevance is underlined by repeated international coverage, including by Al Jazeera Documentary in 2025. Although the Dutch Minister of Justice stated in 2021 that the book was not disinformation, formal rehabilitation by the state did not materialize: โThe judiciary, the Minister of Justice, media, and international experts recognise my work, while the Minister of Defence refuses to break with their framing that I am โcompletely insane.โ I am thankful for the solidarity, but the role of our country in Srebrenica is the ultimate integrity issue that should be the focus!โ
To this day, Giltay continues to advocate for transparency and truth-seeking. In 2023, he won two lawsuits against the National Ombudsman for obstructing his information requests. With the penalties, indirectly paid by the Dutch state, he funded the English translation of The Cover-up General, which prominent Bosnians had asked for. In 2024, he made it available worldwide for free. Despite these successes, he is pursuing a new lawsuit over ongoing obstruction in releasing documents, thereby continuing his commitment to justice.
For press enquiries or other correspondence, please contact the author at .
The tell-all that blows the cover of spies and
reveals a sinister plot to obscure the Dutch failure in Srebrenica
The tell-all that blows the cover of spies and reveals
a sinister plot to obscure the Dutch failure in Srebrenica
Photo credits:The photo of Reinier van Zutphen courtesy of the
National Ombudsman,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
The photo of Victor van Wulfen courtesy of
Gabriรซls Photography and Van Wulfen.
The photo of Roger Vleugels courtesy of Jay Achterberg.
The photo of Frank de Grave courtesy of
Roel Wijnants,
CC BY-NC 2.0.
The photos of Brenno de Winter and Philip Drรถge courtesy of
John Melskens.
The photo of Joris Voorhoeve courtesy of
Vera de Kok,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
The photo of Bram van Ojik courtesy of GroenLinks.
The photo of Willem Middelkoop courtesy of Govert de Roos from
Wikiportret,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
The photo of Harry van Bommel courtesy of Govert de Roos from the
SP,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
The photo of Hans Laroes courtesy of
Carl Koppeschaar,
CC BY-SA 2.5.
The photos of Sadet Karabulut courtesy of Bas Stoffelsen from the
SP,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
The photo of Jan Pronk courtesy of
Sebastiaan ter Burg,
CC BY-SA 2.0.
The photo of Mohamed Alsiadi from Instagram/@aljazeeradocumentary.
The photo of ฤamil Durakoviฤ courtesy of the European Union, 2025.
CC BY-SA 4.0.
The photo of Mirsada ฤolakoviฤ courtesy of the Bosnian Embassy in The Hague.
Background designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik.
The avatar of Jeroen Stam courtesy of Stam.
The photos are displayed here smaller than their original size, usually with removed backgrounds and sometimes with color adjustments.
Some photo backgrounds on the news page are designed by rawpixel.com from Freepik.
Video credits:The video pitch ‘Launch of the English edition’ courtesy of
The Banned Books Museum.
Icon credits:The flag icons courtesy of
Freepik from
www.flaticon.com.
Most icons in the voices section are copied from their websites.
The businessman, teacher, and blogger icons courtesy of
Freepik from
flaticon.com,
CC BY 3.0.
The Srebrenica flower โCvijet Srebreniceโ courtesy of
Seadtr,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
Map credit:The map of Europe is an adapted version courtesy of
Tinazul,
CC BY-SA 3.0.
