Are Dutch still Europe's least prejudiced people? - by Marijke Peters

The Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence at Germany’s Bielefeld university spoke to 8,000 Europeans about attitudes towards migration, religion and minority groups. Half of respondents said there are too many immigrants in their home country and 43 percent said homosexuals should not have equal rights.

Social distance: Professor Andreas Zick, who led the team, found the Netherlands is the country with the least hostility towards minority groups. But he also warns appearances can be deceptive:

“The Netherlands – as well as France and even the UK – seems to be very tolerant according to the attitudes against groups. But if it comes to discrimination intentions like ‘would you move into a district where there are many immigrants?’ you can see people are more resistant. So there’s high diversity…. But the social distance is still there.”

Lack of self-awareness: Others agree the study offers little cause for celebration. The Swiss-Egyptian Muslim thinker Tariq Ramadan said on a recent trip to Amsterdam he feels the Dutch lack self-awareness on the subjects of racism and prejudice.

“I think there is a deep problem in this country, a self-projection as a very liberal society that says… ‘this is our tradition, so by definition we cannot be racist; by definition we are open; by definition we are dealing with all of these people and then if we have a problem with Muslims it should be the Muslims [that solve] the problem.’ And I say this is wrong.”


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