继法国全民投票公决否决了《欧盟宪法条约》之后，荷兰人民也对这一条约说了“不”。6月1日晚，欧盟三位领导人１日在布鲁塞尔联合举行新闻发布会，表示有信心与欧盟各成员国、欧盟机构、各党派和民间团体一道解决《欧盟宪法条约》批准危机。外电报道如下：Dutch voters worried about social benefits and immigration overwhelmingly rejected the European Union constitution Wednesday in what could be a knockout blow for a charter meant to create a power rivaling the United States.

With nearly all votes counted, the charter lost 62 percent to 38 percent, an even worse defeat than the 55 percent "no" vote delivered in a French referendum Sunday.

"The Dutch people have spoken tonight. It is a clear result. Naturally I am very disappointed," Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said in conceding defeat in his campaign for ratification¹.

The charter was designed to provide such trappings of statehood as a flag, a president and an anthem² for what has largely been an economic bloc³, while creating a more integrated political entity⁴ of 450 million people with a bigger economy than America's.

Knockout表示“摧毁性的，足以击倒的，猛烈的”，例如：a knockout punch（猛烈的一拳）；a knockout blow（使人昏倒的一击，压倒性的一击）。