We strongly recommend a recently published article about discrimination against Polish people in the Netherlands, which does not exist.
Read on Na temat.pl: Discrimination against Poles in the Netherlands? “It is a figment of the Polish press, which is looking for a chaep sensation. Nobody discriminates against us!”
English translation of the article is available below – Source, www.natemat.pl
Discrimination against Poles in Holland? “It is pure fiction created by the Polish press looking for cheap sensations. We are not discriminated against!”
I have read it, thought it through and decided to write my opinion on the latest report entitled “New ones in Holland. Life of Bulgarians and Poles who have recently emigrated”. Last week, this was the main topic in the media. Personally, the research results revealed by the Dutch governmental think-tank, according to which almost 80% of the surveyed claim that they are discriminated against and 39% of all Polish respondents selected the “from time to time” answer, have left me terrified. However, you should look at these results with reserve. Let me explain why.
Mariusz Soltanifar
Originator of the Link to Poland portal, entrepreneur and academic teacher, permanently residing in Holland
Despite the fact that I have been living in Holland for only three years, it has been enough for me to shape my opinion about Poles living here and the way we are perceived by the Dutch. To my mind, the pointless discussion regarding discrimination must not obscure a more important issue, i.e. how to effectively take advantage of the potential of Poles living abroad?
I look at the report results with certain reserve.
The issue of others’ perception of Poles in Holland is extremely complex and, presently, numerous debates and press publications have been devoted to it. Personally, I encourage everybody to look at this issue in the perspective of Poles’ positive contribution to the life of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It does not only have an economic dimension (I recommend the report entitled: Bijdrage van Poolse arbeidsmigratie aan de Nederlandse economie published in 2011 by Nederlands Pools Centrum voor Handelsbevordering), but a cultural one as well.
Obviously and unfortunately, the mass of 180 thousand of our compatriots living here includes persons whose behaviour may provoke hostility of the Dutch. They turn others against Poles and initiate acts of discrimination. However, such behaviour can be encountered all over the world and it is not impacted by the nationality of a given person.
Thus we must do our best to display our Polish hospitality, integrate with the Dutch, learn their language and cooperate with them – this will definitely enhance our image. Let us participate in such initiatives as the Polish Person of the Year (Polonus Roku), i.e. a contest presenting unusual achievements of persons who both Holland and Poland will definitely pride themselves in. It is worth mentioning that the third edition of the Contest will be organised in the autumn next year.
Unknown survey sample
The report presented by the governmental think-tank does not specify the region and representative group used in the research. We are only informed that this group includes “the Polish community in Holland; 800 Poles who came to Holland between 2009 and 2010.” The report does not specify if the survey has been conducted mainly in agricultural regions (hosting Poles having lower qualifications, frequently not knowing the language, living in more difficult conditions and often closing themselves in separated Polish communities) or other regions.
The abovementioned group is one of the clearly noticeable groups of Polish migrants. The other group includes Poles who have chosen Holland as their place of residence, who do not declare any willingness to return to Poland and who often live in mixed marriages. These persons share their expertise and experience, which is often appreciated by the Dutch authorities. Lumping these two groups together may result in erroneous understanding of the question of discrimination. Expectations of Poles who come to Holland for a short spell, do not care about integration or even learning the language obviously differ from expectations of persons who intend to stay here permanently.
I have been trying to contact the authors of the report and obtain more information regarding the representative sample for the survey, however, I have been informed by the Dutch Social Research Institute (Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau – SCP) that they have been on holiday. However, in order to confirm my belief that the problem of discrimination in Holland does not exist, I contacted a few persons who know the issue of migrants very well to ask them if they has noticed any symptoms of discrimination?
Additionally, I tried to involve Poles living in the Netherlands in a discussion on the Facebook group entitles “poles in Holland” (Polen in Nederland). After a few minutes, some of them reacted. The issue of discrimination irritates me as it repeatedly occupies the first pages of newspapers, but does not contribute to anything new.
Where is this discrimination?
Poles are the most numerous group from Eastern Europe which lives in Holland. Over 180 thousand Poles live here. However, this data does not take into account the Poles who stay in Holland for a period shorter than four months as they are not included in the register of residents (gba – bevolkingsregister). We are also more and more visible, which results in the fact that the media feed on even slightest incidents.
However, Poles are not discriminated against in Holland. Małgorzata Smółka, the founder of the concert agency – MMusic Foundation artistic management company organising performances of Polish artists in Holland, cannot see it either. She has been living in Holland already for over 18 years and here is her answer to my question: “Personally, I have never encountered any acts of discrimination”. However, she has drawn my attention to a very important issue, i.e. “we know little about one another, not much more than just common stereotypes”.
All negative behaviours stem from ignorance. The more we learn about one another, the easier it is for us to understand our behaviours, “locate” them somehow, relativise them. Each behaviour has its reason and it is worth knowing before we start passing judgments. I also feel that discrimination against Poles in Holland is a figment of Polish press’ imagination which has found an easy topic, a cheap sensation. There are different, not always positive, situations resulting from the inflow of Polish labourers to the Netherlands. However, you must not treat such incidents as the only actual facts and generalise them.
It is worth getting to the bottom of a problem and, most of all, analyse it within a context much broader than a few cocky utterances causing a storm in a teacup. The media should remember about one thing – tomorrow there will be another, much “hotter” topic. The Polish community in Holland living here for years have been painstakingly creating the image of Poland and Polish society. Their daily work among the Dutch, in organisations created by the Polish community abroad, is sort of work at the grassroots. We need both time and support in order to consolidate a positive image of Poland among the Dutch. If somebody does not want to help us, the least they can do is to stop hampering us. “Let us write about the good things, let us boast about the best things we have, show our best side to the world”.
Guido Keutgen, the founder of poPolsku, the modern magazine for Poles in Holland, is of a similar opinion. He highlights that “it is difficult for him to discuss this issue as the matters touched upon here have little to do with discrimination. They are simply connected with taking advantage of the situation of these Poles who speak little Dutch, which results in the fact that they do not know the rules and habits present in Holland. This results in the fact that they are easily exploited”. Keutgen may be considered as an expert in the issue as he has his own newspaper and has just started a TV station for Poles in Holland (poPolsku.tv). Moreover, he works with our compatriots on a daily basis.
Tomasz Karawajczyk from the Forum of Polish Schools in Holland (Forum Szkół Polskich w Holandii) is of a similar opinion about discrimination. He said that “during his stay in Holland he had seen and been through various bizarre situations, but he found it difficult to talk about acts of discrimination”. “Holland is a multicultural country and it will never change”, he added. “It is a country of commerce so the saying “buy cheap, sell expensive” is reflected in different areas. I have met numerous nice and likeable Dutch who help others selflessly. Basically, the Dutch are a likeable sort, but, as every nation, they have their black sheep. Personally, I think that us Poles are more often able to express our discrimination verbally or by means of facial expressions and the Dutch discriminate against other in a more subtle way”.
For Richard Dudkiewicz, a co-organiser of the Polish Person of the Year in Holland contest, who for years has been involved in the activities of the Polish community in Holland and the Polish-Dutch Cultural Association, the issue does not exist either. Richard answers my question as follows: “Personally, I have had no unpleasant experiences. Holland has always been and still is a very tolerant country. Discrimination is a topic popular in the last few years which has been used for different purposes, not always realistically reflecting the actual situation. The fact that a very large group of Poles is present in Holland creates new perspectives in the Polish-Dutch contacts. The benefits are mutual. They must only be used properly”.
Monika Salemink, the organiser of the Miss Poland in Benelux contest, is of a different opinion as regards the issue of discrimination in Holland. She has answered my question as follows: “Intolerance and, what follows, discrimination is everywhere. Similarly, good and bad people are everywhere. Only we are responsible for our approach to this issue. Yes, after coming to Holland, I have witnessed acts of discrimination almost everywhere. Obviously, here, nobody will tell you directly that you are not welcome as, in my opinion, this is a country of natural born diplomats.
You will never hear: “it is an ugly top” or “nightmarish hairdo”. Here, negative information is almost always encrypted, less obvious. In Holland, you will learn that somebody “would not be bold enough to do their hair this way” or “this top would not suit them”. The same goes for discrimination against other nations. Such statements as “Polish tsunami” are very rare thus the reaction like stirring up a hornets’ nest. Very negative reactions are relatively rare thus it may sometimes actually seem that Holland is a really open and tolerant country. My experience shows that it is quite the opposite. I have frequently experienced hostile attitudes to myself resulting only from my nationality. On the other hand, is it any wonder the Dutch react this way seeing people lying on pavements, thieving, drunk or causing problems? At time like these, only one, not really enthusiastic comment comes to our minds “Oh, it’s my fellow Pole…”.
However, the majority of the surveyed see no issue of discrimination in Holland. So, let me ask, where is this discrimination? In my opinion it is just a cheap topic for media just scavenging for a sensation. In my opinion, it simply does not exist. Numerous events organised by Poles, e.g. the Polish Person of the Year in Holland contest, Miss Poland Benelux, meetings of the Polish and Dutch entrepreneurs, football games, poetry festivals for children (Wierszowisko) gather both Poles and the Dutch. Such get-togethers enable us to get to know one another and come to like one another. Holland provides numerous opportunities for those who know how they want to live their lives, are honest and ready to integrate as well as become familiar with Dutch customs.
However, there are more vital aspects than discrimination.
I have been reading with disbelief subsequent opinions stating that every fifth Pole feels s/he is discriminated against. However, I have not found the much more interesting theme expressed in the Dutch report – the culprit responsible for this whole commotion. Talented people leave not only for Holland – and this is worth noting?
However, I will not write about what the government should do to keep them at home – we are also familiar with this topic, but what should we do to take advantage of the Poles’ potential abroad? According to the discussed report, Poles stand out thanks to their good command of Dutch and the fact that 70 % of them have secondary or higher education. Talented and well-educate Poles also contribute to the success of Norway, i.e. over 50% of migrants being the largest group among the new wave of migrants. I assume that the situation is similar in many different European countries.
Thus I get irritated by the fact that our attention is repeatedly drawn exclusively to the aspect of discrimination. The phenomenon of xenophobia is well-known all over the world and not limited exclusively to Poles. It concerns each nationality. The Dutch are often taken aback by behaviour, customs or lifestyle of Poles, but this regards only single individuals. Instead of constantly dwelling on the issue of discrimination, let us concentrate on how to take full advantage of the Polish potential abroad. What about taking some actions that facilitate understanding of cultural differences? What about encouraging others to accept the fact that they are guests in this country being so friendly towards Poles?
The Senate, in the press release of 5 July, stresses the fact that “Poland needs strong and active Polish communities abroad. Moreover, the persons of the Polish origins living abroad should acknowledge their Polish roots and, by occupying high positions within a given society, contribute to the promotion of our country abroad”. Let us finally display our enormous resources of energy and creativity to successfully and creatively use them with the view to promoting Poland abroad.