Migration started with people from the former Dutch colonies of Suriname and Indonesia. In the labor-shortage years of the 1960s, workers came first from Italy and Spain, then from Morocco and Turkey. Racially mixed couples are a common sight, including on Dutch TV soap operas. The 33-man national soccer squad has seven players from immigrant families, and they are among the country's heroes. But privately, the Dutch may not be as open-minded as their laws suggest.
Immigrants complain of subtle racism, and there are few nonwhite political leaders.
The Netherlands also lags in accepting women prominently in the workplace. The head of state is Queen Beatrix and one-third of parliament is female, but women are virtually absent in senior corporate positions. U.S. Ambassador Cynthia Schneider speaks about a glass ceiling for women. Inc. All Rights Reserved.