DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

30 March 2026
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Local elections
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Local elections
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Narrow majority of Dutch don’t want referendum on EU membership

May 18, 2016

eu flagsA narrow majority of the Dutch do not want the Netherlands to hold a referendum on EU membership, according to a new poll by Ipsos.

Of the 1,000 people polled, 54% said they did not want a referendum, while 46% said they did. However, if there is a vote, 64% would vote against leaving the EU, the Ipsos poll found.

Voters from the two Liberal parties VVD and D66 and the Christian Democrats are least likely to back a referendum. However, 74% of Socialist and 85% of anti-EU PVV voters are in favour.

Supporters of every party apart from the PVV back continued EU membership, Ipsos said. Socialist voters are divided.

Last month it emerged that several of the people involved in organising the Dutch referendum on the EU’s treaty with Ukraine planned to press ahead with calls for a referendum on a Nexit – or the Netherlands withdrawal from the EU.

Next month, British voters will vote on whether or not to stay in the EU.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Europe
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
In some parts of NL, 30% voted by proxy in the local elections
Dutch football fans warned of ICE role in World Cup host cities
Americans turn out for “No Tyrants” protest in Amsterdam
From tulips to tiny things: 11 great things to do in April
There is something fishy about Utrecht's famous fish doorbell
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingLocal elections
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2026 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now