THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — As the deadline for Britain to quit the European Union approaches, thousands of people are expressing interest in a Brexit beach party in the Netherlands to say a fond farewell.

By Wednesday morning, nearly 10,000 people had signed up on Facebook to attend the proposed event that would allow people to sit in deck chairs looking out to sea as "Great Britain wakes up as a closed institution" while enjoying "Dutch chips, French wine and German beer."

Another 60,000 have expressed interest in the Oct. 31 party at Wijk aan Zee, northwest of Amsterdam.

The plan is the brainchild of documentary maker Ron Toekook, who tells Dutch broadcaster NOS it will be "as if you are saying goodbye to a good friend who you hope will return sometime."