Vox: Exit, voice and loyalty in the Netherlands
Interesting research. Apparently, a cradle-to-grave welfare state with high income isn't enough to keep the Dutch happy.
I’ve been in Amsterdam several times over the last few years and have friends there. There’s a lot of frustration with what they see as the abuse and corruption of their system. The elephant in the room is the simmering resentment toward immigrants that…um…don’t adapt to the native Dutch culture and play the system for all its worth. They see their quality of life slowly spiraling downward.
Interesting observations, Van.
My own fore bearers did the same thing from Denmark. Granted it was in the late 1800’s but it was a time of rampant discord in Denmark and the loss of, yet another war, with Sweden. Oh, and they’d become LDS too boot, after all wouldn’t you convert to get free passage to America?
Alan
I didn’t know you had Danish roots. I’m 4th generation myself. I knew there was something I liked about you. 🙂
The immigrants aren’t the real problem, but the government has done a fine job of keeping the finger pointed at them. Most of the people believed to be immigrants are actually the second generation of migrant workers that the Dutch invited starting around the 1960’s to do the work the Dutch themselves were too good for (primarily production work). There are plenty of statistics that show the correlation of their high unemployment rates to discrimination, something I’ve faced myself, being an American and living here for ten years.
I’m planning to return within two years because it’s just downright unpleasant here, they attempt to micromanage your life at every turn and have no concept of individual freedom, although they’d like to think that they do.
I know some Dutch who have emigrated and have no regrets over having done so. When they come back they claim the social problems are only worsening, and they’re not talking about the immigrants, they’re talking about the Dutch, that they’re self-focused and rude. This what the average immigrant sees and it drives their goal of becoming “Dutch” straight into the gutter.
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