Catholics in the Netherlands celebrated their restoration as the nation’s biggest party in the last provincial election, polling 31.5% of the votes.

After four years of rule by the Social Christian (Catholic) Party, Belgium last week got a new government, headed by moderate Socialist Achille van Acker, 56, a stubby, ever-smiling ex-basketworker who has been Premier twice before. Presiding over a coalition of Socialists and free-enterprising Liberals, Premier van Acker will control…