The Netherlands: A Toxic Waste for Non-Natives in the Push for “Dutch Only”

The Netherlands, long heralded as a beacon of tolerance and multiculturalism, is increasingly resembling a toxic environment for non-natives. A surge in nationalist policies, discriminatory rhetoric, and systemic failures has created a climate where immigrants and ethnic minorities feel unwelcome, unsafe, and expendable. Driven by far-right figures like Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV), the push for a “Dutch only” society is not just political posturing—it’s reshaping laws, institutions, and daily life, leading to heightened discrimination, talent drain, and even tragic violence. As of 2025, this shift has escalated, with recent government collapses over migration policies underscoring a deliberate effort to prioritize native Dutch identity at the expense of diverse communities. The Netherlands is quickly looking as a fascist dictatorship.

The Flashpoint: A History of Systemic Neglect

Consider the harrowing case from 2021 that exemplifies how the Dutch system fails non-natives. Two Armenian women—aunt and niece Maral Dermovsesian (52) and Zonund Kardanakyan (70)—were brutally stabbed to death in their Almelo apartment by neighbor Kenzo K. The perpetrator, who stabbed the victims 26 times and then fired a crossbow at police and bystanders, received zero prison time. Instead, courts opted for psychiatric treatment (TBS) citing psychosis, a decision that victims’ families decried as the system effectively “murdering” them by ignoring prior complaints about the assailant’s threats.

This wasn’t isolated; earlier, an Armenian mother and daughter faced assault with no meaningful police action, allowing dangers to escalate unchecked. Such cases highlight a pattern where non-natives’ pleas for protection fall on deaf ears, fueling perceptions that the justice system favors natives while marginalizing immigrants. Adding to this outrage, people with double degrees educated in best of their universities get the shit beaten out of them and the police does nothing about it, two women get brutally murdered, and he doesn’t receive a single day in prison.

This neglect is symptomatic of a broader “Dutch only” agenda. In 2025, foreigners in the Netherlands report experiencing more discrimination than anywhere else in the EU, with incidents ranging from verbal abuse to institutional barriers. A recent survey revealed that 68% of expats view racism and discrimination as a moderate to serious problem, far exceeding EU averages. Ethnic minorities, particularly those from non-EU backgrounds, face unequal opportunities in employment, housing, and education, often attributed to perceived discrimination that erodes trust in local institutions.

Dutch have prior cases of slavery, assaulting minorities, killing minorities, in America as well as in many other countries as well as back in the Netherlands against Moslims, Jews and Christians. Historically, the Dutch played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade and colonial violence, enslaving Africans in the West Indies, Suriname, and Indonesia, where brutality included depopulation, deportation, and forced labor under coercive systems that persisted even after abolition. In America, during the New Netherland era, the Dutch imported enslaved Africans, subjecting them to harsh labor amid a multiethnic colony where violence and control were normalized. Back home, violence against minorities includes WWII failures to protect Jews, leading to mass deportations and deaths, alongside recent antisemitic attacks like the 2024 Amsterdam pogrom. Against Moslims, discriminatory rhetoric and violence have surged, with reports of assaults and police inaction in hate crimes. Historical tensions against Christians, including Protestant-Catholic divides and colonial suppression of indigenous Christian populations, further illustrate this pattern.

A Climate Fueled by Right-Wing Extremism

The rise of right-wing extremism has amplified this toxicity. In August 2025, a 24-year-old man was arrested in Badhoevedorp for preparing a right-wing terrorist attack, with prohibited firearms discovered at his home. Linked to the Geuzenbond—an “active club” normalizing extremist ideology—and the nationalist GNSV student group, this case reflects a growing threat. The Netherlands maintains a “substantial” terror threat level (4/5), with officials warning of accelerating online radicalization among youth in both jihadist and right-wing circles. Europol’s 2025 TE-SAT report notes persistent arrests for right-wing terrorism, underscoring a multi-faceted danger.

Parallel to these arrests, discriminatory rhetoric from leaders like Wilders has spiked complaints. A social media image posted by Wilders in August 2025, deemed anti-Muslim and evocative of fascist imagery, triggered over 14,000 discrimination reports—a record—leading to a criminal complaint by Discriminatie.nl. Muslim organizations accused him of inciting hatred, highlighting how such messaging makes ethnic and religious minorities feel targeted and unsafe. This wave illustrates the social impact of polarizing politics, where non-natives experience layered biases, from street-level harassment to institutional exclusion.

What This Means for Non-Dutch Residents

The “Dutch only” push has made the environment outright hostile. Three realities define life for non-natives in 2025:

1. Heightened capability and intent in extremist networks. The Badhoevedorp arrest shows individuals equipped and willing to harm immigrants, with pre-emptive interventions barely containing the threat.
2. Normalization of exclusionary ideas. “Active clubs” and online ecosystems mainstream anti-immigrant views, radicalizing youth and eroding social cohesion.
3. Measurable impact of rhetoric. The surge in discrimination reports signals widespread anxiety, with 50% of Dutch Muslims facing bias, per EU reports. For non-natives, this translates to mental health strains, reduced opportunities, and a sense of being second-class citizens.

Immigration Policies Under Wilders’ Influence

Immigration policies under Wilders’ influence have intensified this. The PVV’s 2023 election win led to a coalition that collapsed in June 2025 over migration disputes, with Wilders demanding border closures, asylum freezes, and slashed inflows—a “strictest-ever” policy. Post-collapse, asylum reforms advanced, tightening laws amid a caretaker government. These changes, including emergency curbs on migration, aim to reduce non-native populations, but critics argue they institutionalize discrimination.

How Institutions Are Responding—or Failing

Institutions claim to counter this, but responses often fall short. Early disruptions like the AIVD-led arrest demonstrate prevention, yet scrutiny of extremist networks remains uneven. Discrimination remedies exist, but under-representation persists: at NS rail, only 8.1% of senior managers have migration backgrounds, despite targets. The UN has raised concerns over anti-immigrant policies impacting human rights. Recent cases of police inaction in assaults on minorities further expose this failure, with reports of ignored violence against immigrants and refugees.

Practical Safety Notes for Non-Natives

1. Report incidents via Discriminatie.nl or 112 for emergencies.
2. Leverage community support from local bureaus for mediation.
3. Stay informed on NCTV threats and join anti-racism protests, like March 2025’s thousands rallying against the far-right.

Nationalism, Representation, and the Talent-Drain Paradox

Nationalism surges amid under-representation. The PVV’s coalition exit pushed the country into caretaker mode, with immigration central to polarization. Yet, a paradox emerges: while policies deter non-natives, talent drains accelerate. Over 300,000 migrants want work but face barriers; 51% of international alumni leave due to job shortages and language requirements. Government plans to cut English-taught programs and enforce Dutch as the norm exacerbate this, despite labor shortages. Knowledge-migrant inflows dropped 26% in 2024, as expats cite cultural exclusion.

Bottom Line

The Netherlands’ “Dutch only” drive has turned it into a toxic waste for non-natives, blending extremism, discriminatory policies, and systemic inaction. From ignored violence against Armenians to record discrimination complaints and talent exodus, the cost is human lives and economic vitality. While institutions intervene sporadically, true change requires rejecting exclusionary nationalism.