It is still ‘completely unclear’ whether or not Saudi Arabia has instigated a trade boycott against the Netherlands and Riyadh is refusing to give a definite answer, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Thursday.

Last month, Saudi Arabian media reported the Middle Eastern country is now considering taking economic sanctions against the Netherlands.

The potential boycott stems from a sticker which anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders placed on the door of his parliamentary office. It reads, in Arabic, ‘Islam is a lie, Mohammed is a criminal, the Koran is poison.’ The sticker is a deliberate take-off of the Saudi Arabian flag.

Minister

Foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans said in a written answer to MPs questions on Thursday that a visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of May by a senior civil servant had failed to win clarity.

‘Neither during the visit nor in the weeks afterwards has any confirmation been received that the Saudi government has taken measures,’ Timmermans said. The minister still intends to make a personal visit himself.

Nor was it clear what impact the pending boycott was having on Dutch firms, the minister said. ‘Some companies are not experiencing any difficuties, while others are,’ the briefing said.

The Netherlands exported goods worth €2.3bn to the Middle Eastern country last year. Philips, Fugro, Shell and Boskalis are involved in joint ventures there while various shipyards have major contracts, the Financieele Dagblad says.