Government cannot turn its back on the people’s verdict

Nicola Boden, Amsterdam

The referendum is non-binding, but the 62% turnout reported by state television has exceeded expectations and left the government which promised to accept the results if turnout was more than 30% in little doubt what the voters want.

Although projections suggested the 63% to 37% "No" was far more emphatic than Sunday's French vote, an altogether more muted day of voting unfolded in the Netherlands.

Voters in Amsterdam trickled into the unobtrusive polling stations to record their vote. There were no banners or no obvious "Ja" or "Nee" posters plastered around the city and the only crowds filling the streets seemed to be holidaymakers and students.

One waitress said: "If you want to know how we are all going to vote, it is 'No'."

Holland is known for its liberal laws on euthanasia, prostitution and marijuana, and people said they were afraid Europe would take these away.

Henry Roozendaal, 29, a hotelier said: "We don't want to lose the right to euthanasia and the other great things about Holland like girls and joints. That is why I will be voting 'No'. It just isn't a good choice for Holland. I am not against Europe but I am against this constitution. They should make another one that would work."

In one of the city's renowned cafes on the outskirts of the red light district, people were

equally resolute.

Passing on a joint, Niels Blyerveld said: "I haven't voted yet but I am going to and will be voting 'No'. If we didn't we would not be able to be here in this coffee shop smoking joints. That is the main reason why I will vote 'No'."

Some opponents fear the Netherlands, a nation of just 16 million people, will be engulfed by a superstate headquartered in Brussels and dominated by Germany, France and Britain.

Other voters said they cast "No" ballots to voice their discontent with the Dutch Government and register their anger over the rise in prices following the introduction of the euro Others fear Turkey will soon be admitted to the EU, worsening tensions between Dutch Muslims and the non-Muslim majority.

Tensions have been running high since the murder of anti-immigration politician Pim Fortuyn in 2002 and that of film-maker Theo van Gogh last November. Mr van Gogh had made a film criticising the treatment of women under Islam, written by politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who angered militants by publicly renouncing Islam.

"In other countries that are going to join, human rights are not as well protected as they are here," said "No" voter Mika Gruschke.

"Things are going too fast," said Maarten Pijnenburg, also in the "No" camp. "There's not enough control over the power of European politicians" under the new constitution, he said.

The Dutch outcome is not expected to have the same dramatic result for domestic politicians as France's vote a loss that was a public humiliation for French President Jacques Chirac and resulted in Jean-Pierre Raffarin's resignation as prime minister.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende had already said a "No" would not result in any resignations.

Mr Balkenende voted at his local station in Capelle aan den Ijssel, near Rotterdam, quipping to reporters and photographers: "You did note correctly that that was a 'Yes' vote, right?"