For a while Mr Zalm's party was led by an even more formidable critic of Brussels, Frits Bolkestein.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne: Going Dutch | The

French voters may have objected to the arrival of Polish plumbers under liberalisation pushed by a Dutch commissioner, Frits Bolkestein.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

But EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, who is in charge of the internal market reforms, said he was angered by the change of heart.

BBC: EU savings tax deal collapses