Like many other Western European countries, the Netherlands became an immigrant country in the second half of the 20th century. Most of the immigrants belong to population groups with an average disadvantaged socioeconomic position. In the Netherlands these groups, called 'ethnic minorities', are the target of social policy to combat social deprivation. Unfortunately, this policy is not very effective. Three categories can be distinguished: 'classical' groups of labour and (post)colonial immigrants, 'new' refugee groups, and immigrants from industrialized countries. The latter are the best integrated into Dutch society. The 'classical' and the 'new' groups on the other hand have a disadvantaged position in education and in the labour market. This can be explained with the help of a general model, in which the (objective) opportunity structure, the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion, and the immigrants' resources are the determinants of the immigrants' socioeconomic position. From the Dutch experience it seems that the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion play a dominant role. They help to explain the restricted effectiveness of social policy, since this policy too is infected by a 'cultural bias' which makes it rather difficult for immigrants to fully participate in the receiving society. It needs what is called a 'Baron Von Münchausen' approach to really improve social policy and also the immigrants' socioeconomic position.

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Netherlands Benelux Eurasia socioeconomic status Western Europe migrants experience Europe ethnic minority immigrant population