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

2 June 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • 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

Brexit is a blue fluffy monster, according to the Dutch

February 14, 2019
Photo: Rijksoverheid.nl
Photo: Rijksoverheid.nl

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok launched a new campaign urging Dutch businesses to get ready for Brexit next month – in which the starring role is given to a hairy blue monster.

‘Have you checked the consequences Brexit will have for you or your company,’ Blok says on Twitter, while posing next to an office desk. ‘Make sure Brexit does not get in your way.’

Heb jij al gecheckt welke gevolgen Brexit voor jou of je bedrijf heeft? Doe de Brexit Impact Scan op https://t.co/eytAlAwphK of kijk op https://t.co/U64nYectmE. Zorg dat Brexit jou niet in de weg zit….of ligt. pic.twitter.com/LWKOLnLPQl

— Stef Blok (@ministerBlok) February 14, 2019

Commenters have asked if Sesame Street character Pino has lost his way or if leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson has had a blue rinse. Others have dismissed the campaign as infantile and embarrassing.

Website

The aim of the campaign is to encourage companies to visit the foreign ministry checklist where companies can find out more of the likely impact of Brexit on their operations.

At the beginning of this month, the Dutch customs office wrote to 72,277 Dutch firms which do business with the UK warning them to make sure they are properly prepared for Brexit.

The service’s general director Nanette van Schelven told the Financieele Dagblad in an interview it is ‘high time for action’ because many companies are not ready to deal with the consequences.

The fluffy monster campaign was launched a day after Dutch prime minister warned that a no-deal Brexit will have a ‘devasting’ impact on Britain.

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
Wilders: PVV will quit cabinet unless it agrees to asylum plan
More home owners worried about paying the bills, survey shows
Telstar win promotion to Eredivisie after 47-year absence
Fewer heat-related deaths as awareness of dangers grows: RIVM
Wine Watch: Rethinking rosé, however pink it is
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

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