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

A 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.