Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands

by Ben Coates

Ironically for a country forged out of Protestant dissatisfaction with Catholic rule, the system put particular power in the hands of the Catholic community, with a single political party operating all but unchallenged as the political wing of the Catholic Church. On both sides of the divide political parties were tight and disciplined, able to rely on a strong base of support without much competition for votes. However, the endless need for different religious groups to reach a compromise made Dutch governments unstable, with frequent disputes over issues such as abortion. In 1952, a bizarre situation arose during negotiations to form a new coalition government when a Catholic party claimed the right to appoint the foreign minister, despite objections from Protestants who pointed out that every other foreign minister in the European Community was already – as they saw it – a Catholic taking orders from Rome. In a typically Dutch compromise, the dispute was resolved by appointing two foreign ministers, a Catholic and a non-Catholic, who both represented the country overseas for the next four years.