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Start of the 21st century

2001

A liberal country

The Netherlands has long been renowned for its liberal, sometimes groundbreaking, attitudes to individual liberties. Other countries often view the Dutch as ‘tolerant’, ‘progressive’ or ‘libertarian’ in these matters. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to introduce legislation permitting euthanasia and same-sex marriage.
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2002

The Netherlands in turmoil

The beginning of 2002 was dominated in the Netherlands and many other European countries by the introduction of a new currency, the euro. For the Dutch Royal House, it was a year of joy and sorrow. In February, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander married Máxima Zorreguieta, an Argentinian. In the autumn, he lost his father, Prince Claus. Politically speaking, 2002 was a very turbulent year, with the fall of two governments and the birth of a new right-wing populist party, the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF), which seemed poised to turn Dutch politics upside down. Its founder and leader was Pim Fortuyn. At the height of his fame he was shot, a few days before the parliamentary election due to be held on 15 May 2002.
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2003

A new government and Dutch troops go to Iraq

The fall of Jan Peter Balkenende’s first government in October 2002 was followed by a readjustment of the political order. The results of the parliamentary election on 22 January 2003 restored a more familiar political balance. In early spring, avian influenza was found on several Dutch farms, and drastic measures were taken to prevent it from spreading. In March, the Dutch government gave its political support to the invasion of Iraq by the USA and the UK. Later, the government sent troops to help restore security and stability in Iraq. On 30 September 2003, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France merged to form a new company. At the end of the year, the country rejoiced in the birth of the first child of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima.
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2004

Grief and confusion

2004 was dominated by two shocking murders, which stepped up the public debate on the integration of immigrants that had followed the assassination of Pim Fortuyn in 2002. Politically speaking, the year was coloured by the Dutch Presidency of the European Union. Two major demonstrations took place, one protesting against the planned deportation of 26,000 asylum seekers and the other against government spending cuts. Having lost her husband in 2002, in 2004 Queen Beatrix lost both her parents. However, the wedding of her second son in April was a happy occasion.
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2005

European Constitution and economic recovery

The Netherlands was the second country (after France) to vote against the European constitution in a referendum. The Dutch are in favour of membership of the European Union, but are concerned about the way European cooperation works in practice. Even though economic growth was about half what it was in 2004, 2005 saw signs of economic recovery.
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