Is it only here, or it's really such obsession about those 150k people from Eastern Europe? these guys, although different, are way more closer to Dutch values and lifestyle.
most of them come here to add value and go on with their lives anyhow.
and trying forcing me in integration courses. It does not pay my bills if i learn some polite phrases in Dutch, or how to get to public library. snobs.

p.s. i'm from East Europe, but good part though. And waiting when will get chance to live and work in USA... so dont worry dear Dutch MP, i wont be a nuisance here for life.

By gogi. | October 8, 2009 10:28 AM

I am a Central European...
We are here to make money (pay taxes so you can spend it) and go back as soon as possible. Holland is not a paradise to live, the weather is terrible and the people are arrogant and rude. So take our taxes while treat us normal, until we leave again. There are many other foreigner living here, you do not have a problem with???

By Central European | October 8, 2009 11:28 AM

You can´t force any of the Europeans to integration, it is against EU law and these are EU citizens. You are already making Americans and Canadians hate you by forcing them to integrate when it is you who should learn to integrate with other people or get out of Nato and world trade!

By sandra | October 8, 2009 1:21 PM

I'm a Brit and believe Eastern Europeans could teach the Dutch something about customer services and manners. I have only ever been impressed with every eastern European I have met, both here and back on the Island. Eastern Europeans hold doors open for you and I have seen them give up seats to more needy people on public transport. I believe foreign work ethic is needed here,

By UnknownUnknowns | October 8, 2009 3:31 PM

This is really messed up!

...That only immigrants outside the EU have to take the "Inbuggering" course?

The Netherlands is showing it's true financial & racist attitude towards foreigners, because it does not have the necessary 'Think Tank' to solve the mass immigration problems.

There are so many ancient (Religious related) laws in this country that seem to still have a habit of destroying it's own economy. When this country finally gets a decent modern thinking government, and allows business to operate 24/7, thus creating more employment, I'll probably be long dead & cremated.

It seems to boil down to the EU being against individuality & free enterprise. Please somebody tell me WHY we need the EU!

By stevie | October 8, 2009 9:40 PM

Well, people from ex-soviet countries are certainly different breed from those NL is having trouble with. hard-working, persistent and most of them rather motivated. Don't see any problems with that. Yes, they may have different [ex-soviet] mentality, but it eventually fades away.

By P | October 8, 2009 10:26 PM

You only get out the country what you put in, if you dont put anything in, then you dont get anything out,
I've lived here in Holland for many years, why,? because its a great coutry, ok, there are some laws that I think should be changed, but it's the same in any other county, no, you cant complain about Holland, as they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do, if you want something for nothing try England,

By John | October 9, 2009 12:30 AM

I'm not from Eastern or Central Europe but I am frankly quite fed up reading articles about how many foreigners there are, etc. It's just xenophobic talk basically. I have also lived in a central European country, and guess what, they are equally xenophobic. So let's just call a cat a cat. People are racist; when you have too many foreigners in your country you react with your animal instincts i.e. territorial behaviour. I think the day when governments can resolve such a complex issue is when we can all see beyond the colours of the human skin. The Netherlands is a great country and I enjoy living here. Contrary to what is mentioned here, I have met many good Dutch friends. I have lived in many countries and no country is perfect. As with the "inbuggering" course, although the intention is "noble", it's just superficial. Ultimately it depends on the individual's motivation and there is no point inducing Dutchness into a foreigner when she or he isn't Dutch or feels like one.

By Jonathan | October 9, 2009 9:08 AM

The whole thing is confused, emotional and slanted by agenda groups into hypocrisy.

If people bother to ask real experts, academics who have studied and officials from outher countries who have dealt with such issues for years then the picture becomes clear. Any immigration that is in large numbers creates xenophobia, problems of integration and when allowed (or put) into large communities (ghettos) the youth whom will not find work will become social problems.

The hypocrisy is that agenda-bigots like PVV's master & commander Geert Wilders says the social problems for Muslim immigrants is religous and that "europeans do not do such things". He asked for "statistics" of non-Europeans and was rightly refused to do such a count - why? Because in the end the experts confirm that it is social/economic not religous as proved above by the increase in numbers of eastern europeans becoming (predictably) a problem in some parts.

Showing the bigotted and xenophobic line is the easy way out instead of working the issue/needs/methods out correctly. It would be easy to say that for instance the Serbs are a dangerous mess, even FIFA is afraid of their youth let alone what they did to Bosnia in the early 90's and thus should not be welcome at all.... of course I do not say that and it would be bigotted to do so, but that is about the line that PVV takes except natonality/religions are different.

I am Dutch, ethnically through and through, I also happen to be a Muslim and I live between Rotterdam and Marrakech in Morocco, by choice (avoiding the cold). I have no problem with culture and religion in immigration but I do wish things were more carefully and strictly enforced.

Put contracts on ANY immigrant, they must come back after three years and show/prove that they have been good residents, no problems with the law and prove that they have shown effort to integrate. I do not care if the guy is South African white-boar who's Afrikaans makes langauge easy - or if he is Canadian of Dutch origin - you try to integrate and the pressure is on you to prove it. If you cannot, you must leave. If you tried to learn the language and it is difficult, and your the 64yr old grandmother of the Turkish family that tried very hard, no problem - you tried. You are part of a group that does not support and respect the dominant culture of Holland, then your not integrating properly and get out.

Holland is changing, the whole world is, but it must change naturally, slowly and not by force nor should any changes be stopped by force as well. When I was a child in the late 60's, the same BS about Mallacans, Suranamers and German tourists were the topic. They integrated (or in the case of the tourists there money was accepted) and now there food is as much Dutch as it is ethnic. Tell the Dutch that their satay sauce on their frit is foreign and they will laugh at you.

Let's get a bit of perspective.

By Solkhar | October 9, 2009 12:22 PM

This article is about Eastern Europeans (by the way, Eastern's E should be with capital letter.) If you do not like them here, you should not get them into the EU firstly (they did not want to join neither) but where would you dump all of your agricultural, mass-produced goods? They pay each year to be part of the EU, France and you pick up the subsidy and you also would like to prohibit them come over come here? What an optimal solution that would be. You got reach on slave trade, so nothing surprise me.

By Lizzy | October 11, 2009 6:20 PM