Netherlands
Recent stories
Male immigrants hinder female integration, say researchers
The Commission on the Participation of Women from Ethnic Minorities (PAVEM) says that a quarter of a million female immigrants without good Dutch should be helped to integrate as quickly as possible.
28 June 2006 (206 words)
Row over Hirsi Ali splits VVD
Hirsi Ali lied in her 1992 asylum application, according to a TV documentary broadcast on the Vara tv network in May.
21 June 2006 (224 words)
Geert Wilders launches new anti-immigrant party
In anticipation of the general election in 2007, Geert Wilders, a rightwing populist and former parliamentarian for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), launched his new Freedom Party and its ten-point programme at the end of March.
1 May 2006 (311 words)
Research states Islamic and Dutch values are compatible
The Scientific Council for Government Policy has carried out a three-year research project which has affirmed that Islam, in principle, does not conflict with democracy, human rights or Dutch values.
16 April 2006 (132 words)
Issues in the March 2006 local elections
The Christian Democrats (CDA), Liberals (VVD) and the Social Liberals (D66) all suffered substantial losses in the March 2006 local elections, with the Labour Party (PvdA) emerging with the biggest gains.
1 April 2006 (391 words)
New political party representing immigrants launched
The Partij voor Allochtone Nederlanders (PAN), which translates as Party for Newcomer Netherlanders, has been launched in the Hague.
22 March 2006 (95 words)
Integration exam study-DVD criticised
The material provided for people studying for the integration exam includes a DVD entitled 'To the Netherlands' illustrating Dutch life by showing gay men kissing in a meadow (to illustrate that homosexuals have the same rights to marry) and topless women on the beach.
16 March 2006 (226 words)
New language test aimed at families and marriage partners introduced
The Dutch parliament has approved a measure under which, as from 1 March, people from outside the EU applying to live in the Netherlands will have to take a Dutch language test - over the telephone.
15 March 2006 (440 words)
High court judge attacks immigrant values
Jan Wolter Wabeke, high court judge in the Hague is reported as saying, 'We demand a new social contract....We no longer accept that people don't learn our language, we require that they send their daughters to school and we demand they stop bringing in young brides from the desert and locking them up in third-floor apartments.'
6 March 2006 (67 words)
Rotterdam charter for daily conduct backed by Verdonk
Verdonk's idea of a national code of conduct was apparently inspired by the Rotterdam code, a charter for daily conduct consisting of seven points including encouraging residents to speak only Dutch in schools, at work and on the streets, accepting homosexuality, religious tolerance and equal treatment of men and women.
8 February 2006 (288 words)
Legal challenge for integration plan
The Equality Commission (CGB) believes that the distinction being made between different groups of Dutch citizens in Verdonk's reworked integration plan could lead the government into legal difficulties - particularly the obligation on residents up to 65, who have spent less than eight years in the Netherlands during their school age, to undergo a course to help them integrate into Dutch society and gain command of Dutch.
25 January 2006 (155 words)
Verdonk recommends national code of conduct to bolster Dutch identity
Immigration and integration minister Rita Verdonk has recommended to her party the introduction of a code of conduct to emphasise Dutch identity, including speaking Dutch in the street, non-discrimination and equality between men and women.
23 January 2006 (78 words)
School accused of racial segregation
The Rietlanden/8th Montessori school in the east end of Amsterdam has introduced separate entrances for white and black pupils but denies that it has anything to do with racism as the school welcomes children from all ethnic groups.
20 January 2006 (271 words)
New law against duress in marriage proposed
Cabinet minister Rita Verdonk has commissioned a report Forced into Marriage.
1 January 2006 (55 words)
Extremist MP demands ban on Islamic immigration and more deportations
Geert Wilders, MP has called for a complete five-year ban on people from Turkey and Morocco immigrating to the Netherlands and this would include those who wanted to join their families.
23 September 2004 (144 words)
Dutch restaurant refuses to lift headscarf ban
A restaurant in the Hague has refused to lift its ban on serving women in headscarves, despite being told to lift the ban by the commission for equality.
9 September 2004 (81 words)
Dual nationality muddle looms
The new legislation which may force many expatriates to take out Dutch nationality when marrying native-born partners, could end up creating families with both dual national and single status children.
1 September 2004 (39 words)
MP Hirsi Ali courts controversy
Hirsi Ali, a Somali asylum seeker, now a Dutch MP has caused offence within Holland's Muslim community by creating an 11-minute film which allegedly peddles stereotypes and hoary-old traditions which are not considered by the faithful to be true to Islam.
1 September 2004 (184 words)
Antillean MPs condemn integration policy
The Antillean parliament has condemned the integration proposals on the basis that they make a distinction between Dutch nationals born in the EU and born elsewhere.
27 August 2004 (84 words)
Pim Fortuyn's party files for bankruptcy
The Dutch Populist Party set up by Pim Fortuyn, who was murdered in 2002, has filed for bankruptcy.
13 August 2004 (78 words)
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