Muted protest from the Dutch in latest Wilders affair

Dutch politicians are indignant about the treatment of member of parliament Geert Wilders but want to avoid a diplomatic conflict. Relations between Britain and the Netherlands are too important.

The Wilders affair was not worth a new war with Britain, said parliamentary chairman Gerdi Verbeet mockingly earlier this week. But she completely disagreed with the British government's decision to refuse entry to Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders.

Indignation and resignation characterise most political reactions to the British ban on Wilders, which can be traced back to a tightening of laws since the suicide attacks in London in 2005. Since then entry to Britain can be refused for people with such extreme ideas that they threaten national security. This has already happened 270 times since July 2005.

But whether or not it is legal, just about every Dutch politician is at odds with the British decision. "Churchill would turn in his grave," according to right-wing liberal (VVD) member of parliament Hans van Baalen.

Major diplomatic incident

And yet few in the Netherlands want the affair to escalate into a major diplomatic incident. The mutual relationship with the UK is too important for that. Less than a week ago Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende was a guest of his counterpart Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street, where they had, according to a spokesman, "a good conversation in an excellent atmosphere". The prime ministers were as one in their call for a halt to the growing protectionism caused by the economic crisis.

Because when it comes to free trade policy, Britain and the Netherlands, who fought four naval wars in the 17th and 18th centuries, are in agreement. Britain is one of the Netherlands' most important trading partners. Around 10 percent of Dutch exports (some 31 billion euros) goes to Britain, the relatively large Dutch financial sector is strongly represented in the City of London, Shell and Unilever are British-Dutch companies.

The relationship is a valuable one, particularly in these times of economic meltdown. And so the interests of the trader weigh more heavily than those of the clergyman. This is why the protest has been mainly verbal. Foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen thought he had gone far enough last Tuesday, when the Wilders ban was announced, in telephoning his displeasure to his British counterpart David Milliband. Parliamentary chairman Gerdi Verbeet did the same at parliamentary level. She sent a letter to her counterpart at the British upper house, with a copy to the chairman of the lower house, with the request to do everything possible to allow Wilders entry.

Silent diplomacy

But with this, all the 'common' channels had been used. Of course, the Netherlands could have decided to recall its ambassador or to suspend diplomatic relations. But those are far-reaching steps.

Add to this the fact that the Dutch foreign affairs ministry had leapt to Wilders' defence reluctantly, although this was never publicly acknowledged. The politician's film Fitna has created a great deal of work for the department, with very serious safety risks for Dutch embassies in some Islamic countries.

The so-called 'silent diplomacy' is little appreciated by Wilders, at least that is minister Verhagen's experience. Last summer, when Verhagen wanted to raise the question of an impending Jordanian prosecution against Wilders with his colleague in Jordan, Wilders immediately went public.

But at the same time Verhagen, a born politician, knows how sensitive everything to do with Wilders is in Dutch national politics. It is in this light that the presence of the Dutch ambassador Pim Waldeck at London's Heathrow airport when Wilders arrived yesterday should be seen. Because the ambassador was there, Verhagen will be able to say the Netherlands did its utmost when he answers parliamentary questions about the latest Wilders affair next week.

"The Netherlands deeply regrets that the United Kingdom did not see fit to revoke its decision to refuse Mr Wilders' entry into the country", according to a statement from the foreign affairs ministry Thursday afternoon. Regrets. In diplomatic terms that means: don’t rock the boat.