Islam and the Netherlands, what is happening behind the dykes

Abstract

In the European Union, besides the Netherlands, France is the only other country with a substantial Muslim population. In France, it is about 10% of the population, in the Netherlands about 5%. In both countries, but in France predominantly so, a major part of the Muslim population is of Moroccan origin or – in France only – with roots in Algeria and Tunisia. In France, formally the immigrants from the former colonies are considered to be ‘French’. In many ways they are, but in the last month rebellious Muslim youth made clear that their position in French society is extremely problematic: very high unemployment rates, bad housing conditions, geographical and social exclusion. The situation in the Netherlands is quite different. Unemployment among the second generation is high, but not nearly as high as in France. Living conditions are generally much better and although there are tendencies of segregation (mainly of voluntary nature: people tend to seek residence near their compatriots), the majority lives in or near the centre of the major Dutch cities.