海角大神

The missile that most likely brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, killing nearly 200 Dutch citizens, 鈥渨as fired indirectly from the Amsterdam Zuidas.鈥�

Zuidas is the city's business district 鈥� and the top story in De Volkskrant, a leading Dutch newspaper,聽 registered there to take advantage of Dutch tax breaks.

The report has not been verified independently. But the coverage points to mounting public anger in the Netherlands over the crash in the separatist-controlled swath of eastern Ukraine. That anger grew over the weekend as pro-Russia rebels impeded access to the site for international investigation and recovery of bodies. On Monday, Dutch investigators were finally able to examine bodies being held at a railway station in the town of Torez.

Until now, the Netherlands has advised European caution in pressing Moscow to dial back tensions in Ukraine. But fueled by its fury over the handling of MH17, the country that has always been seen as a barometer of the European zeitgeist could swing the discussion as EU foreign ministers meet Tuesday to consider a ratcheted-up response to Russia.聽

Ko Colijn, the director of the Clingendael Institute of International Relations in The Hague, says the tragedy has moved the聽Dutch from the 鈥淚talian鈥� to the 鈥淧olish鈥� camp 鈥� in other words, from cautious to hardline players on Russia. 聽鈥淚 think the Dutch can convince at least some of the foot-dragging members in the EU to follow a more severe line now,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n the end this will result in a really significant change of stance.鈥�

The typically restrained Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in a statement over the weekend, had harsh words for Russian President Vladimir Putin as investigations were stymied. 鈥淚 want to see results in the form of unhindered access and a speedy recovery of the victims鈥� remains. This is now priority No. 1. Putin must take responsibility vis-脿-vis the rebels and show the Netherlands and the world that he is doing what is expected of him," he said.

Prime Minister Rutte's anger comes as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and French President Fran莽ois Hollande talked on the phone over the weekend and agreed that 鈥渢he EU must reconsider its approach to Russia and that foreign ministers should be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia when they meet聽on Tuesday,"聽according to a statement.

The Netherlands, like other EU countries, has significant economic ties with Moscow, from the energy company Shell to the exposure of Dutch banks, says Andy Langenkamp, a political analyst with ECR Research in the Netherlands. Its role as a tax haven for Russian investors has been under question since Russia annexed Crimea in March. It also has what it considers a 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥� with Russia. Last year, the two countries celebrated 400 years of 鈥渇riendship." While it was also a fraught year, capped by the arrest of Dutch Greenpeace activists in Russian waters, the Netherlands has pushed for dialogue and diplomacy, instead of pushing Putin in a corner.

But after the crash, the anguished pleas of relatives 鈥� one of whom addressed Putin directly in an interview with the Associated Press, saying 鈥淢r. Putin, send my children home. ," have tested the nation鈥檚 patience. Many blame Putin for not pressing armed separatists to allow for a thorough and credible investigation.

The mood was reflected in the nation鈥檚 headlines and editorials over the weekend. De Telegraaf ran a front-page picture of pro-Russian rebels under the title 鈥淢urderers.鈥� The De Volkskrant story today, based on information from the news website聽, is one of the most-read stories of the day. Some newspapers have even called for NATO troops to be dispatched.

That won鈥檛 happen, says Mr. Langenkamp. "But it shows you that the mood is changing.聽The public anger is really great. With 200 [casualties], almost every town or city has a story with people involved.鈥�

Some editorials have taken aim at Rutte for being too cautious.聽Bas Heijne, a Dutch writer and columnist for NRC Handelsblad, wrote in Politico:聽鈥淭he truth is that for too long the Dutch government has coddled the dictator in Moscow, looking past Putin鈥檚 .鈥澛�

Mr. Colijn says that he doesn鈥檛 expect the bilateral relationship to change significantly, that today鈥檚 anger will in time give way to pragmatics. 鈥淭here is an understanding for the position of the Dutch government, which 鈥� 聽tries to separate emotions from the most effective way of operating in politics,鈥� he says.

But he says that in Brussels, home to the EU parliament, the Netherlands has already taken on a new role. 鈥淚 think we are on the verge of accepting that in order to harm Mr. Putin,鈥� he says, 鈥渨e have to hurt ourselves first.鈥�