“ Hyves (its name being a play on the English word “beehives”) says it has signed up 7 million Dutch residents, or almost half of the country’s population of 16 million, since launching in 2004. On the site, users post photos and videos, customize their personal profiles, and connect with neighbors in nearby provinces. One of the most popular users is Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who boasts about 150,000 friends and sometimes invites people he meets on the site for a visit to his presidential office.
