The Socio-cultural Integration of Ethnic Minorities in the Netherlands: Identifying Neighbourhood Effects on Multiple Integration Outcomes

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between the ethnic concentration of a neighbourhood and multiple integration outcomes of ethnic minority groups in Dutch society. The data used are drawn from two large-scale surveys: the Survey Social Position and Use of Provisions by Ethnic Minorities (2002 and 2003), which provides information on the four largest immigrant groups (Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese and Antilleans) as well as five important refugee groups in the Netherlands, and the Attitudes towards Minorities Survey (2002), which contains extensive information on the indigenous majority. The paper examines whether ethnic concentration in neighbourhoods influences indicators of socio-cultural integration, i.e. inter-ethnic contacts, language proficiency and mutual stereotypical attitudes. The analyses show that social contacts between majority and minority groups are less frequent in ethnically concentrated neighbourhoods. However, a degree of mixing has a positive influence on the actual orientation of the indigenous Dutch towards ethnic minorities. The analyses also reveal that in neighbourhoods experiencing a sudden influx of non-Western citizens, inter-ethnic attitudes tend to be more negative. Social contacts play a mediating role in this relationship. These contacts are also important for a good command of the Dutch language among members of ethnic minority groups.