Jan Peter Balkenende

Trivia

Balkenende is noted for his strong resemblance to the fictional character Harry Potter. This makes him especially popular with young children, but is also the source of some derision. He is often called "Jan Potter" by the Dutch inhabitants. On June 4, 2005, this comparison was made by Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht in the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. This caused a small diplomatic controversy, and the Belgian ambassador had to apologise to Bernard Bot, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs. De Gucht stated that "Balkenende is a mix of Harry Potter and a petty rigid bourgeois mentality" (brave stijfburgerlijkheid).

Related Topics:
Harry Potter - Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Karel De Gucht - Flemish - Bernard Bot - Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs

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