I have worked with Moroccan Dutch youth and they all informed me that they faced so much discrimination that it made them resentful towards dutch people in general. What else do you expect if you discriminate against young men and deny them a future.. They said that as soon as they mentioned their Arabic surnames the job opening was closed.

By Highlander | June 25, 2010 3:20 PM

Is this a reflection of the criminality of Dutch Moroccan youth, or the prejudice of the police (and society)? I would think the latter.
The following extract from the Financial Times Deutchland is interesting;
"The sad reality is: the liberal multicultural Netherlands, in which everyone can live how -- and smoke what -- they want, is largely a foreign myth. The economic crisis has only strengthened and made visible the actually conservative and at times narrow-minded tendencies in the society."

By AC | June 25, 2010 3:53 PM

It's not helped by how the press slant articles about Dutch Moroccan youth. For example, would not a better head line for this article been "Dutch Moroccan youth Discriminated by Police"?

By Quest | June 26, 2010 10:52 AM

I'm sorry to say that I call BS on the "discrimination" based on their Arabic surnames. I am an expat living in Amsterdam (Osdorp to be exact) for close to 3 years now and I have worked for 2 dutch companies and I've always had Arabic colleagues. Palestinians, Lebanese, Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish.. you name it.

I will concede that there where almost no Moroccans working in any technical or management level positions in those companies but I would "blame it" on the fact that the few Moroccan co-workers that I met had limited to null English and very limited education (in IT or management fields).

Unfortunately what I see most of the times is that some (not all of course) Moroccans are hiding their lack of education behind a "shield" of racism and discrimination therefore justifying their low income jobs.

I have also witnessed situations where young delinquents tried to defend themselves and their actions (vandalism, disrespect for public property, disruption of public order etc) with accusations of racism towards the person or people who confronted them.

By Peter Pan | June 26, 2010 7:39 PM

When majority suffer and society want to blame someone for their sufferings then minorities has to suffer. At this point minorities have been use as a lamb or the cause of sufferings of majorities. This is what we see in Dutch society now, look after this economic crisis 15% of people vote to Wilder who uses Muslims as lamb. This is not new Human always need someone to blame for his sufferings.

By Mehmood | June 27, 2010 9:55 AM

Its an interesting statistic, apparently the previous commenters have never had to approach a group of young individuals of ethnic race to ask them to keep the peace, stop harrasing the local kidsetc. only to be told with a stream of profanity to mind your own business or the 15 of them will beat on you....don't even bother threatening to call the police, they simply don't care (not that the police will come anyway....)

By Sean Smith | June 28, 2010 9:55 AM

When are the dutch going to learn the old song..."you have to be taught to love and hate"....Moroccan youths are the products of their parents, as the Dutch youth are. You can't have a young person brought up in a home that believes and lives by their "holy book"..period. At least with the Christians the New Testament came along to put down the hate and evil of the old testament. Maybe we just have to wait for some new "human" book to replace the old Koran. For some reason, that i really can't understand, the Dutch guilt, about something,(as shown in the other 2 posts) is so strong that in the end will destroy the Dutch culture and society.

By alanposting | June 28, 2010 10:37 AM

Dutch Moroccan youths is part of the Netherlands like any other Dutch (Indonesian-Chinese-EU-Dutch it-selves) youth. There's no point to put on their shoulders this kind of pool, the only result is to increase discrimitation

By Amsterdam For Free | June 28, 2010 11:41 AM

People tend to live up to one's expectations.

Sean Smith, would you ever hire a well-mannered Moroccan youth and give him a chance? Or would you avoid it because they are "trouble"? And how "good" would they have to be before you give one a chance?

You can say THEY have to change, but they would have to be better behaved than a typical blonde, blue-eyed Dutchie before the hard-core scapegoaters would give one a chance. One acts like a narky teen and it would continue to justify your prejudices, while you would accept the same behaviour from the blonde-haired, blue eyed one.

I've seen it all my life in Canada with aboriginal youth. It's no different.

A helluva steep mountain for a kid to climb especially when he would have to choose between family and peers who accept him as he is, and wider society who expects him to screw up and wants him to deny pretty well all that he is, even that which isn't criminal.

By CW | June 28, 2010 1:23 PM

Many of these Dutch Moroccans first generation are illiterate. They can not even read a letter, let alone, read an understand the Quran...and as if the Majority Christian Dutch population live their lives by the Bible...This country suffers from institutionalized racism, no matter what religions are involved...

To blame it on religion is overly simplistic.

There is an ingrained mistrust between native Dutch and foreigners, no matter what anyone thinks. Of course, this can not be generalized as there are great exceptions. The good people from both parts, native and non native and working quietly in the background making things happen and trying to steer the situation to the right direction.

By Saladin | June 28, 2010 2:44 PM

Stop judging people by the colour of their skin and labeling them! I once saw in a canteen break, a young Moroccan guy beat the crap out of a Dutch guy for discriminating. I also have had in the past a good Moroccan colleague that I could have a drink and a joint with!

We all share a common interest, mate, procreate and survive!

By stevie | June 28, 2010 10:55 PM

I am an Irishman, living in Holland for 24 years now. I reared my family here. I have lived all over this country with my job. I know it better than the Dutch. I have 2 really close Moroccan friends. Great mates. They are 3rd generation, educated Moroccans and they openly despise the "new" generation of Moroccans more than Gert Wilders. What does this say to us all? Integrate! They did and have a great life amongst the rest of us Paddies, Brits and Cloggies.

It may be a problem for your parents, who know no better and may be illiterate,. But YOU must teach them what is going on. And be honest. Tell them that THEY choose to live here. Not you. YOU must leave the old ways behind you. NOT Islam. That is your right and it is protected under Dutch Law. As much as it is mine – if I wanted to stay Catholic. I choose not to. I but I live in the Christian way. MY choice. It is also yours in a free country. You dont have that choice at home – so respect the people around you who allow you this freedom.

I have lived in Osdorp, Amsterdam for 8 years now. I loved its multi-cultural, mainly Arabic - buzz. My missus loved it. And my kids. BUT now, it is getting to the situation, when you go to the shops or the parks after dark and during the day and you are tense before you even leave the house. Why? 12-16 year old Moroccans are a living nightmare in groups. If there is only one - no problem. But two or more and you get accosted or verbally abused. If you are lucky. 2 middle aged women I know have been attacked and beaten for nothing but a few euros. It made me sick to my soul.

My wife has come home shaking with fear, in tears from Moroccan kids hassling her. They surrounded my brother in law, who has polio and teased him until I sorted them out. I see it on the tram every day. Any problems on the trams, buses and trains are caused by Moroccans FACT. Always. Not Turks, Not Africans, Not Asians. Just Moroccans. They have polarised themselves into this situation and they have NO one to blame but themselves. Forget the racist get-out card. They use that as veil to cover their nasty actions and attitude. The Dutch have been far too tolerant and have sided with them uo till. Now. This is changing from necessity and experience.

This is why Wilders support is growing. It is NOT an Arabic problem. Its a Moroccan one. They cause a vast majority all social problems from immigrants.

If their leaders/parents/Mullahs - don't sort it out soon, as it is obvious their parents don't care or don't know what their kids are doing - there will be blood on the streets in the next 10/15 years. There will be harsher laws to stop them coming in and harsher laws to deal what the ones who are here already. Do you want this to happen? I don't.
Hard facts. But true

I’m moving before the end of Summer. Cant live here any more, even though I love the neigbourhood. I hate having to do that and why should I have to? I hate racism to its core, but find that I am now becoming one in my thoughts towards one race. My family too.

So, all you young Moroccans out there, know what is coming if you don't change your ways and integrate. Stay in school. Get an education and a job. Mix. And be decent and respectful to other races as the try to be with you. It's your country too now. Not Morocco.

By Gibson | July 5, 2010 3:06 AM