NETHERLANDS: The main topic on the Dutch streets yesterday, in cafes and among shoppers was today's referendum on the EU constitution, writes Isabel Conway in Leeuwarden
Rigtje de Boer, who waited while her daughter sat the theory portion of her driving exam at the test centre in Leeuwarden said: "I intend to vote Yes because I think it will be good for our economy and good for us as an exporting country.
"But I understand all the opposition, and most people I meet feel enlargement is rushing ahead at a crazy pace.
"At the weekend I talked to lots of young people, and not one of them was going to vote in favour. All the bureaucracy coming out of Brussels and the lack of information in advance of the referendum were reasons for them to vote against."
Leeuwarden, capital of Friesland province, clings to its own distinct language and customs.
One No voter was Willy, who manages the cafeteria at the driving-test centre.
"It's not a vote against the European Constitution; as a matter of fact I am pro-Europe," he said. "This is my protest against this government for breaking its promises to the Dutch people.
"I am also voting against the euro because it has driven prices sky high. Our guilder was under-valued when we joined and now I am selling coffee here which has gone up exactly a guilder - you could say it almost doubled - when converted into euros.
"People still buy it, of course, but it's costing us a lot more in the long run."
The mood in Heaven coffee shop was that the referendum would be overthrown by a large majority.
"Dutch people are not that interested in Europe," said a young man called Max who was rolling a joint for a German customer, "but they never really had a chance to speak out before so now they feel with the referendum they can say 'Stop, we want to get off the train because we don't knew where the hell it's headed'."
Through a fog of marijuana another customer muttered: "A strong federal Europe might force a change in our tolerance regarding soft drugs."
Typical of those who have decided not to vote at all was Anneke de Vries, who admitted: "I am utterly confused and at sea about the whole issue.
"If our parliament had not voted to hold this referendum it would all have been decided by the cabinet.
"Their arrogance is unbelievable. I will not vote because I am afraid of doing the wrong thing and regretting it afterwards.
"If I knew more and understood what will happen after 2006 then I would most certainly use my franchise."
Her husband Kees added: "I was going to vote Yes, but now I will vote No because the constitution is a dead duck anyway and they will just have to go back to the drawing board, won't they?
"I hate this government of ours so I want to maximise their embarrassment, and that's really why I will vote No. It's not about Europe as such."
Despite the discussions among the electorate, there was no late run on copies of the constitution. Indeed inquiries by The Irish Times in two bookshops in Leeuwarden for a copy was met with incredulity.
"We don't stock it but you can get a short summary," said the assistant at the Bruna bookstore, "all you need and want to know - free at the library or town hall.
She added: "Nobody here is going to pay money for something they can get for nothing."