Dutch split on refugee policy but don’t want borders closed

Only one in five of the Dutch think the international treaty on refugees should be respected, according to a poll of over 1,000 people by market research group Ipsos.

The treaty forbids signatories from sending refugees to countries where they may be in danger, nu.nl says.

In addition, 52% think the country’s asylum policy makes it too easy for terrorists to enter the country and 45% think efforts should be made to tighten up refugee policy  within the current legislation.

Ipsos carried out the poll in the wake of the publication of a VVD plan which called for Europe’s borders to be completely closed to refugees.

However, the Ipsos poll found just 14% in favour of completely closing the borders and pulling out of the international refugee treaty. Among supporters of the anti-immigration PVV, just 49% favour shutting the borders to all refugees, nu.nl reports.