HAD Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam, anti-European Union Freedom party been more successful the result would have been a depressing affirmation that the election of Donald Trump and Brexit are part of a pattern casting a shadow over the liberal, stable and prosperous Europe of the last 70 years.

One of Europe’s most iconic cities, Amsterdam, invented the stock exchange but it faces obstacles if it is to be a banking hub after Britain leaves the European Union, writes Rob Cox   

A PARTY led by far right, anti-Islamist and anti-EU member of the Dutch parliament Geert Wilders has taken four of the 25 Dutch seats in the European Parliament election.

Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende’s centre-right Christian Democrats won the most seats in Dutch elections, but results today showed a sharply divided nation with no alliance winning a clear mandate to govern.