Results Public Opinion Poll on NATO

Opinion Poll:

Support for NATO among Dutch population remains high

At the request of the Netherlands Atlantic Association, the public opinion research institute TNS/NIPO has once again conducted a survey about NATO. The survey shows that support for NATO in the Netherlands remains high.

The main results of the poll are:

• A very large majority of the Dutch population (83%) finds NATO membership of importance to Dutch security.
• A very large majority (76%) feels that NATO contributes positively to the relationship between the United States and the Netherlands. This percentage has risen somewhat when compared to previous years.
• A large majority (66%) has started thinking more positively about NATO since Barack Obama became president of the United States.
• A majority (57%) of the interviewees opposes extending the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan. 37% is in favour of extending the mission.
• A majority (60%) of those questioned is in favour of future NATO military operations outside European territory. 30% think that NATO should limit itself to defending European territory.

The poll was taken in December 2009 and was conducted among 1,161 adults that reflect the Dutch population. The full results of the poll (in Dutch) can be found here.

For more information you can contact:

Netherlands Atlantic Association