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Ethnic concentration and interethnic relations

Original title: Maakt de buurt verschil?

Does the neighbourhood make a difference? This study investigates whether the ethnic composition of neighbourhoods influences the degree of interethnic contact and the mutual perceptions of non-Western migrants and native Dutch citizens. Do migrants living in neighbourhoods with a high concentration of ethnic minorities have fewer contacts with the indigenous Dutch population? Do they hold more negative views about the native Dutch than migrants living in 'white' neighbourhoods? And what about the other way round? Does the neighbourhood in which they live influence the interethnic contacts of native Dutch citizens and their attitudes towards migrants?

Geographical concentration of population groups figures large in Dutch government policy. The findings of this study show to what extent this geographical concentration has a negative effect on interethnic relations at neighbourhood level, and consequently provides guidance for choices in policy interventions.

This study was carried out at the request of the Dutch Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration.