Amsterdam - An increasing number of Dutch nationals fear a financial crisis following the recent financial problems in the United States and with Benelux insurance and banking giant Fortis, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Polling agency Maurice de Hond said some 72 per cent of respondents said they thought these financial problems will have an impact on the Netherlands.

A total of 38 per cent said they fear the Dutch Stock Exchange may crash. Two weeks ago, a poll found 44 per cent of the Dutch feared a financial crisis while 23 feared a stock exchange crash.

The number of Dutch who fear to lose their savings deposited in Dutch banks, remained unchanged at 12 per cent, according to the poll.

On Monday night, Finance Minister Wouter Bos told the Dutch parliament he might not have approved the takeover of Dutch bank ABN Amro by the Belgian-Dutch Fortis in
2007 had he understood Fortis' financial situation the way he does today.

Bos made his remarks during an emergency session in parliament convened following the nationalization deal involving Fortis announced Sunday by the governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. (dpa)