Yes, in Holland it is illigal to defend oneself effectively. But it is legal (after you got a weapon-permit) to own military weapons, but not automatic ones. You can buy AR-15's (XM-15 Bushmasters), H&K Mk-23's (SOCOM USP) and Steyer AUG's over here. 9x19 mm para, .45 APC, .223, and .30 nato/.303 winchester are all allowed in the Netherlands, but .50 BMG is not (except when you are able to get a special permit, for testing armored cars)
Well, after talking to these guys you know why Holland is in military aspect laughable! Our police is armed with Walther P5's, but many officers never use them (you almost have to get written permission from the governement to shoot back in a firefight), they almost got no gun training and don't care for their P5's (dropping them or never cleaning them) so many of the P5's simply don't work.
I asked one of these guys what I was supposed to do if some maniac attacked me with a knife, for example (that was after I'd told him I carried a gun for self defense and he had gotten the idea that I was completely nutz).
His answer? "Why, you must run away, of course. And find a policeman!"
Of course, If I didn't run very fast, or had a heart condition, or if the maniac blade-waver was particularly fast I'd be sh*t out of luck, but that didn't seem to enter the equation. The idea seemed to be that defending yourself wouldn't be "orderly" or "permissible", and even immoral. Go figure.