The historical reputation of the Netherlands as an outward-looking country with an open and welcoming society is increasingly challenged. Surveys from the last years indicate that the Netherlands is 'expat-unfriendly', show a rise in support of anti-immigrant talk, and the pro-European course of political leaders is no longer taken for granted. Observers speak of a turn toward societal introversion. Is Dutch society really losing its outward-looking reputation?
This question is central in a debate organised by the Montesquieu Institute, bringing together conflicting opinions. These opinions will be represented by Gideon Shimshon (head of the center for Innovation the Hague), Billy Allwood (director and founder of TheHagueOnline) and Adriaan Schout i (deputy director of research/Europe at the Institute Clingendael).
