Euro Crisis Shows Dutch Take German Side at French Expense

When it comes to fighting the European crisis, the Netherlands may as well be a part of Germany.

“The Dutch are often a mainstay for the Germans, and as such, play a bigger role than justified by their economy,” said Sylvester Eijffinger, a professor of financial economics at Tilburg University, 69 miles south of Amsterdam. It’s good for Germany because “it never wants to be accused of going it alone,” he said.