Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende is promoting the Netherlands in China this week. At one reception he proclaimed that Holland is not only the gateway to Europe but also has ‘a happy life’.

This was on the day that depressing news emerged about a big slump in consumer confidence. And industry announced that it is extremely pessimistic about the economy.
And the same day as teachers went on strike for a reduction in their ‘unbearable’ work load. Not to mention the hospitals that are facing bankruptcy meaning patients will have to travel miles for their healthcare. To say nothing at all about the credit crisis.
All in all, it was not a happy news day in Holland yesterday. To be fair to the prime minister we know what he means. Holland is a developed, well-ordered society. As far as we know critics of the government are not carted off to labour camps as they are in China.
But such an expression as ‘happy life’ is ill-chosen in the current climate. People have it good in the Netherlands but the country is showing stress fractures in many places.
People are worried about their future, race relations are stretched, tolerance is shrinking and solid corporate Holland is rocking on its foundations.
Balkenende may be excused from selling the blarney in China. But he needs to address the nation in the right tone and terms when he gets back.