Around one-third of people with Chinese, Indonesian and other East Asian roots in the Netherlands experience discrimination, but this rises to as much as 50% for people of Chinese origin, according to new research on behalf of the government.

In total, 2,500 people were questioned for the survey, which is the first of its kind to be carried out. Some 51% of those in the survey said they had been treated in an unfriendly way, 42% had been subjected to hurtful jokes and 42% were either bullied or shouted in the street. 

Social affairs minister Karien van Gennip described the results as “unfortunately not surprising”. “Everyone can now see the scale on which discrimination takes place,” she said. “It means recognition, but also a task for us as a society.”

The research was carried out by the University of Amsterdam and Fontys hbo college in Tilburg on behalf of the ministry. 

People questioned for the survey also report an increase in discrimination since the coronavirus crisis although, the researchers say, it is difficult to say if this has actually been the case or is down to an increase in awareness.

During the pandemic, people with Asian roots reported twice the pre-pandemic number of complaints about racism and discrimination to an official hotline. Coronavirus was first identified in China.