The Dutch opened voting on Wednesday in a referendum on a far-reaching free trade deal meant to foster closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union that has run into opposition in the Netherlands where many see it as evidence of unwanted EU expansionism.

The nonbinding vote exposes deep divisions about the Netherlands' place in Europe and comes less than three months before British citizens decide in their own referendum whether to leave the EU altogether.

Dutch opponents of the EU-Ukraine association agreement argue its ultimate goal is bringing Kiev into the EU. Supporters say it is not a membership steppingstone and will boost trade and help battle corruption and improve human rights in the former Soviet republic on Europe's restive eastern edge.