Why do the Dutch think they are so tolerant?

Question

Ask anyone who lives in The Netherlands who is from another land or who is not white and they will tell you that the so-called Dutch tolerance is a sham.

Answer 1

and what does that have to do with me, an American? it' is none of our business what other country's say or do. why can't people understand that.

Answer 2

I'm Dutch myself, and I really wonder where you got the idea from that we "think" we "are so tolerant". Of course, we have a liberal drug policy, legal prostitution (if registered), and much more, but that doesn't mean we think we a tolerant, as has been said in previous answers. It's "the rest" who thinks we are tolerant.
About the Theo v. Gogh murder (the film director): there are tensions between native Dutch and immigrants (indeed, muslims, but there are more groups), because a very small percentage of these immigrants tend to disbehave (comparable to the percentage of the native Dutch I must say!). However, partly because the Dutch are afraid of the unknown, and partly because of some have had not-too-good experiences with these immigrants, a distorted image of the immigrants is formed (as in every country I would say?).
Now, in every country there are some fundamentalists who only care about the Islam (perhaps a lousy way of putting it, but well..). As there is freedom of speech in the NL, some Dutch will critisice the islam, resulting in actions from these fundamentalists. Result: the Dutch have another reason to dislike immigrants (muslims in this case).
Although the Dutch (although it's not ALL Dutch of course) are wrong in viewing other cultures this way, they're not alone. There have been far more extreme cases around the world. For you Americans, consider: "Americans vs. Mexicans/Afro-americans (shooting of MLK/the beatings of Rodney King?)". it has never been that bad over here...
Anyhow, come over and see for yourself I'd say...

Answer 3

Apparently you restrict tolerance to the attitude shown towards immigrants. Of course not everyone is positive about immigration and every country comes with his share of nationalists and racists. No country will be perfect in that respect and the Dutch are by no means an exception. There is less support for nationalist parties then for instance in France or Belgium. But underneath the surface a lot of "hidden" intolerance exists. Polls/studies have shown that. E.g. nobody minds skilled immigrant workers coming to the Netherlands to fill up vacancies, but when asked if you'd want an immigrant as your neighbour......

The Dutch do not claim to be saints, but do make an effort to have laws in place that allow free choice on some matters that are forbidden or restricted in other countries. Euthanasia, gay marriage, abortion, softdrugs, prostitution are the most well-known examples. That did not create a Sodom and Gomorra, nor does it mean it's paradise. Tolerance is not a marketing label invented by the Dutch, it is a perception of the Netherlands by many people based on lots of things. You don't need to agree. I like living in the Netherlands, there are definitely worse places to live, regardless of your colour.

Btw, the example of filmmaker Theo van Gogh getting murdered is a bit of a strange example for Dutch intolerance towards "not-whites", he was killed by a self-proclaimed muslim-fundamentalist.

Answer 4

I honestly thought that the dutch people where relatively intolerant and somewhat conservative but they had tolerant laws and a bleedin' deadly PR machine that promulgated this attitude that the Dutch are liberal. This is not so, I say. The Dutch have blood on their hands, I say. Johnny Film Director was murdered on the streets of the Netherlands for being vaguely critical of Islam. Hardly the calling card of a liberal nation. Don't believe those dutch, they just want to get you stoned and abuse you.

Answer 5

the dutch legal system is very tolerant... dutch people are no more tolerant than most europeans. but it makes the country look tolerant overseas because of their laws, mostly very open for things like homosexuality, drugs, euthanasia, prostitution... but that's fair enough

Answer 6

I guess we all aren't perfect.

My friend likes Europe more than he does here, and he has been in the Netherlands, for the 2nd time, almost 3 years. I like Europe as well as the states though I do get homesick.

And you are right, many Europeans don't have a real good image of people from the USA, and that was Before Bush. They think we are snobs who a lot of times act like perfect A--holes overseas. And we do!

Answer 7

I don´t think that a country exists, which could be called "tolerant" about their immigrants.

Include between people the same nationality/ race there are problems because some of them are different (education, religion, criterion, personality...). If we check ourselves, our friends are our special selection between the rest of our neighbours/colleagues (and why we should be tolerant with people, who is really rude or not nice with us!)

So, don´t dream! We can´t expect more of a human been...

Answer 8

ask the moluccan ethnic population if the dutch are tolerant,look at their football hooligans,look in history for the first ss regiment outside the reich ,tolerant MY A--e

Answer 9

The majority of the objects of racism in the Netherlands are Muslims.

Answer 10

Why would you want to live there , ifs its not your Country.
Funny in my home I can be as tolerant, or intolerant as I choose.

Answer 11

Dutch, have the right to be what & who ever they want

It their land, culture, languages, politic and religion

and if you don't like then don't go there and beg to stay.

Dutch slowly over run by jew, arabs, black and chinese.

This nation consist of white slowly turn into brown house dutch