ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a modest contribution to a highly politicised debate on the integration of Muslims in the Netherlands. As the Netherlands is one the most populated countries in the world per capita, demographic pressures associated with social spaces where various ethnic, religious and linguistic groups co-exist should find their place in the integration studies. The ethnic, linguistic, social and historical backgrounds of Muslims in the Netherlands are exceptionally diverse. Muslims have settled in the Netherlands from 1879 when the first recorded settlement of 49 Muslims from the Dutch East Indies was mentioned in the national Dutch census. At present, the Nederlandse Moslim Partij (NMP) has ceased to exist in practice ending Muslim participation under the Islam flag in Dutch politics. The Dutch Government places an emphasis in its official policies on civic integration. However, the Dutch Government should attempt to engage with more than a single Muslim authority, as pluralism will remain a defining characteristic of Dutch Muslim communities.