The Interreferendum Period

Within the academic and public debate, the convincing rejection of the European constitution by the Dutch population in 2005 is seen as a turning point in the relationship between the Netherlands and the EU. It is assumed that after the constitutional referendum, the dominant pro-European consensus in the Netherlands was definitely replaced by widespread criticism. The rejection of the constitution has been researched a lot, but studies analysing the relationship between the Netherlands and the EU after 2005 are limited. This study contributes to the current academic debate by questioning the critical turn, asking whether it indeed signalled the start of a new period and describing how Euroscepticism developed after the referendum. This thesis shows that after the constitutional referendum Euroscepticism in the Netherlands has indeed become more dominant in political party discourse, but when actual European decisions and votes are studied, this increasing Euroscepticism has to be reconsidered. The main cause and amplifier of Euroscepticism is the failing political communication on multiple levels. Almost all Dutch politicians take over the dominant Eurosceptic narrative instead of countering it by an inclusive, pro-European discourse promoting the value of European Integration. Moreover, no attempts are made to increase the knowledge of the EU. In this regard, Euroscepticism can be seen as a positive development as it challenges politicians to discuss the worth of the EU and increases its knowledge.