'Level-headed Dutch are just as susceptible to fear as the British'
Fishermen in the United Kingdom recently protested about the adverse effects of Brexit on their trade. It would be naive to think that covert feelings of being under threat do not exist among the Dutch population. Citizens who feel threatened become defensive, a situation that could lead to a Nexit.
Although we level-headed Dutch like to think we are rational beings, just like the British we are a proud people and susceptible to fear, writes PhD candidate Eva Grosfeld in a column in Dutch newspaper NRC. 'Besides, the coronavirus crisis has led to feelings of uncertainty and has reinforced fears among the population. People worry about their health, financial situation and their living conditions. Here in the Netherlands, feelings of being under threat can also be linked to the EU to make an anti-EU campaign successful.'