Pragmatic Dutch seek conciliation

Date: 12/12/1996

STUDENTS of Dutch history are always taught that the country suffers from a lack of national consciousness.

This is why, since the Second World War, the Netherlands has been the first to throw itself into almost any international alliance - making a radical break with the neutral stance it clung on to in the past.

Membership of the European Union has always been perceived by the Dutch as a good thing. As one of the 'founding fathers' of the EU, the Netherlands ensured that its voice was heard by the 'big boys' when the club was being set up, and has continued to do so.