Brexit a ‘lose-lose’ scenario but the Netherlands stands to gain from companies leaving UK, Dutch official says

Brexit viewed as a 'lose-lose' situation by Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok, but he admitted there were some advantages for the Netherlands as a result

The Netherlands is ready to welcome companies leaving the UK due to Brexit, the Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said on Tuesday.

The relationship between the UK and the Netherlands has traditionally been close, and will remain so in the future, but the Dutch view Brexit as a ‘lose-lose’ operation, Mr Blok told reporters at a briefing in the Hague.

However, he added: “There’s a famous saying by Johann Cruyff - ‘Every disadvantage has its advantage’. In the case of Brexit this means a number of companies are considering or have already decided to leave the UK, and of course we are in the race to welcome them.

“The Dutch population is English speaking, open-minded, we have deep harbours, wide highways, and a very good airport at Schiphol. We are a very attractive location, and we are not shy to promote it.”

He noted that many financial firms have already made the decision to move “at least part of their operations” out of the UK to mainland Europe, because “they are insecure about the effects of Brexit”.

“As long as there is not a Brexit agreement there can be nothing but insecurity and they are spreading the risks,” he said.

“I understand Amsterdam will host quite a number of specialised training companies. Of course we welcome these companies but we would rather there was no Brexit - but it’s too late for that.”

Mr Blok said he was more hopeful that an agreement could be reached following Theresa May’s speech at the recent Tory conference, but added: “A hard Brexit is still possible, the Netherlands is also preparing for a hard Brexit. Not because we hope for it but because we are not sure it won’t happen.

“We are an extremely important trading partner (for the UK), with Rotterdam Harbour, the largest European harbour, facing the UK. There is very intensive trade, so we are preparing in a very practical way, engaging customs officers, engaging phyto-sanitary personnel, but also thinking about parking space at the ferry terminals in the Hook of Holland - because we have to.”

In terms of the Netherlands’ approach to the Brexit negotiations, Mr Blok said: “We have no negative intentions whatsoever towards the British.”

While ‘it was a UK decision to start the Brexit procedure’, the Dutch regret that decision but respect the referendum result. However, he said: “During negotiations we will act within one unified European combination, and that’s not because we want to ‘gang up’ on the UK, but because we are one trading bloc negotiating with a new trading bloc in the making, and trade negotiations within the EU are always done on behalf of the whole union.”

Mr Blok’s comments come after King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands said he still regrets the UK’s vote for Brexit.