"We have already said no to this request, but we will discuss the issue. There are legal obstacles to taking in these prisoners,” he said.

The prime minister was at pains to point out that this is a complex problem, but expressed his willingness to discuss the matter further, possibly in a European context. All of which suggests that the arrival of Guantanamo detainees in the Netherlands cannot yet be ruled out.

Several hundred terrorist suspects are still being detained at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where they have been held for years without due process and legal counsel. The prison camp, set up under the Bush administration, has unleashed a torrent of international criticism on the United States. President Obama is determined to close down the prison. While some prisoners will be tried on the US mainland, America is looking to its allies to take in others who are unable to return to their homelands. To date, only a handful of European countries have been willing to take in limited numbers of prisoners.

In the interview, Mr Balkenende went on to express his great admiration for the new US president. He said that he had received a personal letter from President Obama shortly after the death of his father, last autumn. The prime minister was in Washington when he heard the sad news of his father's passing and was forced to cut short his visit.

Mr Balkenende was also enthusiastic about the possibility of the Netherlands hosting the Olympic Games in 2028 and the Football World Cup in 2018. Today, the Dutch government decided to earmark funds for the organisations launching the bid campaigns.