With analysts predicting there will be little good news on the economic front until the summer, Mr Schroeder will have to run a tighter ship politically if he hopes to swing the vote his way in September.

BBC: Jobless put Schroeder on the line

Down at the docks in Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, cranes swing into action, unloading "Edith" - the world's biggest container ship, which has just come into the port.

BBC: Dutch show growing annoyance with EU