But the previous comments of the Dutch Prime Minister provoked strong reactions from readers of this site.

Commenting on one of the Express.co.uk stories that surfaced about the comments, one was furious: “Lol, the Dutch are trying to promote themselves again, we’re way ahead of them, and who do they think they’re kidding?”

Another wrote: “I believe the bitterness of our passing will diminish with time.”

A third said: “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha… ROTA: Britain is too small to be big on the world stage?

“The Netherlands is not a power on the world stage. Are you jealous, Mr. Root?”

Another criticized: “No matter how small you think we are, we are still bigger than you.”

A fifth commented: “Baby! I hear the sound of green jealousy!!!”

Another added, “Looks like Mr. Root was wrong, right?”

It would be a medium-sized economy in the Atlantic.

It is not the United States, not the European Union.

“He’s too young to appear on the world stage alone.”

Rutte also warned that hundreds of companies had plans to exit Britain.

He said, “We can’t stop them from coming here.

Every UK businessman I spoke to says that they will close their UK investments and businesses.

“It will have an insurmountable impact on the UK.”