The Netherlands has a reputation as a progressive and tolerant nation that has embraced progressive politics such as the legalization of soft drugs and same-sex marriage. Historically a progressive frontrunner in migration issues, the Netherlands had prided itself for decades on the alleged success of its policy of “integration with preservation of one’s original culture”. The Netherlands proudly claimed a vanguard position in extending rights to immigrants, such as the right to vote in local elections and dual citizenship. Recently, however, the country has entered into a state of shock with the murders of the politician Pim Fortuyn (in 2002) and the film director Theo van Gogh (in 2004). Both were known for their critical views regarding Islam. Since the murder of Fortuyn, questions have been raised to address the Netherlands’ diversion from multicultural tolerance and acceptance. In this website, we will try to re-create the tensions that arose after the killings of Fortuyn and van Gogh, and will specifically reflect upon the different arguments and views regarding tolerance, migration, multicultural identity and integration that have been brought forth. We also include the Dutch colonial history in this discussion and expand our focus on the Netherlands to the entire Benelux-area, including both Belgium and Luxembourg.
This project started with course Dutch 170 – Dutch Culture and Society: Multiculturalism in the Netherlands, organized by the Dutch Studies Program at UC Berkeley. It has now evolved into an Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program for students interested in researching and furthering the contemporary debate on multiculturalism in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the Dutch-Speaking Caribbean. We consider the UCB campus, with its remarkable ethnic and cultural diversity, a unique place to launch this comparative exploration into the cultural effects of immigration.
We offer this website as a forum for further research and discussion on the multicultural society in the Netherlands. If you would like to contribute to this project, please contact us.
