Most Dutch people are too optimistic about their personal finances and are not aware of the serious effects the financial crisis can have on them, according to finance ministry research published on Tuesday.

Some six out of 10 have no idea what it costs to be overdrawn at the bank and 50% do not know what interest rate they are paying on personal loans, the research showed.
The research, carried out by ministry-backed Platform Centiq, is based on interviews with 1,400 adults.