At the same time, the Netherlands has undergone a radical modernisation in social and cultural respects. All aspects of life have become secularised and individualised, and the collective emancipation of migrants along the lines of the pillarised model of Dutch society is no longer the preferred route. In establishing themselves and finding their place in society, today's migrants must have recourse to their individual capacity to adapt. The majority of the first wave of migrant workers was inadequately equipped in this respect. The minority population has seen rapid growth in recent decades and now exhibits greater diversity.
Migrants nowadays come from a variety of countries of origin.
The educational level of old and new migrants, their position on the labour market and the participation of their children in schooling form the main themes of the Minorities Report 1999. Important new sources have been tapped for this purpose. The position of the various minority groups is compared with that of the majority who are of Dutch origin. The comparisons cover several years and are specified to the older and younger generations wherever possible. These analyses are followed by a discussion of the present minority policy of the national government, after which recommendations are formulated.