The British referendum on EU membership and its outcome have shaken the European Union (EU). Other member states reacted mainly surprised and disappointed to the decision of the British to leave...Show moreThe British referendum on EU membership and its outcome have shaken the European Union (EU). Other member states reacted mainly surprised and disappointed to the decision of the British to leave the biggest European integration project. The idea of the ‘Brexit’ (British exit) also worried some parties: it could function as an example for other countries. In the Netherlands, the radical right-wing party suggested a ‘Nexit’ referendum. The Dutch liberal party VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie), the senior government partner, immediately rejected this idea. The VVD looked up to the United Kingdom (UK) for a long time and often shared ideas with the British, but the decision to leave the EU was not supported by the VVD. The reactions of the VVD to the UK in Europe in the period 1948-1963 and the period 2000-2013 are at some points similar and different on other points. This is shown through archival research.Show less
