The Dutch still want us...

[ipsogenix]

A lovely letter to the UK published in a Dutch newspaper: Text written up a few posts down.

[BitOutOfPractice]

I often think that the Dutch are the only nation in Europe that still likes the Brits. Which is great as I love them right back

I'm on my phone and the text is too small to read (and my Dutch not good enough) do I'll just say

dank je wel Nederland. We houden van jullie allemaal ook!

Hope that's right!

[shitchef]

I love the Netherlands, used to go on overnight trips there as a student from Hull to visit friends in the 90s and felt so safe there - but I'm afraid I still want to leave the EU because I think the UK is better off out. I'd love it if the Netherlands joined us.

[juneau]

Aw - that's lovely. Bless the Dutch and their lovely country.

Its a lot more persuasive than that odd letter in Der Spiegel too. Did anyone else read that? Basically it said 'Please stay, we appreciate your contribution to the EU, both financially and culturally, but if you do stay you need to start pulling your bloody weight and stop asking for special concessions all the damn time!'. Er ... jawohl Germany!

[Purpleprickles]

My db lives in Holland, it's a lovely country and I can see the appeal of moving there.

[ipsogenix]

BitOutOfPractise I'm so glad you liked it. Just for your, here is the text typed out so you can read it:



Hello Britain,

This is your neighbour calling. Please don't leave us. Of course there will always be a Great Britain, anchored only 20 miles from the continent. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we feel at ease in your amazing country. Since our King William III ( of Orange) married your Queen Mary II (of England) we have been related anyway.

Nobody in Europe appreciates your culture more than we do. The Beatles, Bridget Jones, One Direction, EastEnders, Brideshead Revisited, we love it all. Many of us know Monty Python's Dead Parrot sketch by heart. We admire your stiff upper lip. And every year we remember, with the greatest respect, all those who have fallen to liberate our country.

Now you are thinking of leaveing us. Sailing our your floating country towards distant shores, so says your largest newspaper, The Sun. Talking as a Dutch uncle, we have to tell you this is not a good idea. We not only love you, we need you. Who else suports us in keeping some common sense on this turbulent continent of ours? An EU without the UK would be like tea without milk. Bitter.

So please, stay. Stay with us.

Best wishes,

Your neighbours.

(See how I deftly avoid doing housework by fighting for geopolitics instead. :-))

[BritBrit]

I have no doubt if the UK votes for Brexit that Holland will be the next country to leave, they have already voted against the EU-Ukraine deal & a new Dutch law only requires 300,000 signatures to trigger a public referendum.

[Millyonthefloss2]

It's a lovely friendly letter from the Dutch. It's always interesting to read what other countries think. The Swiss have just voted never to join the EU.

"The Swiss parliament on Wednesday voted to officially withdraw the country’s dormant application to join the European Union."

www.swissinfo.ch/eng/european-policy_swiss-to-withdraw-dormant-eu-bid/42229112

So they have torn up their long-shelved application to join the EU.
Would we join if we were not already in?

[shitchef]

Yes I can't believe how much housework/paperwork I have neglected avoided doing because of the EU ref.

[RedToothBrush]

A Dutch friend of mine always says that one of the difference between here and the Netherlands is their sincerity.

The English will go 'Come visit anytime' and it be a platitude. The Dutch mean it.

She lived here for a year and found it very difficult to get her head around.

I love the Dutch.

[ipsogenix]

We should form a union with the Dutch. :-)

[BitOutOfPractice]

It'd be a great party if we did!