How tolerant are the Dutch and where does this show?

Many people from outside the Netherlands choose to stay in the Netherlands as expats or even to immigrate to the Netherlands. In addition to the financial benefits and central location in Europe, many people choose the Netherlands because of its open culture and tolerance. Read more about this in this article.

The Netherlands is known as a tolerant country, meaning there is a general attitude of respect and acceptance of diversity, such as differences in culture, religion, sexuality, and so on. It is a country where people are free to make their own choices and be themselves without too much social pressure or restrictions. That being said, there are challenges in terms of tolerance and diversity and there are still social issues where there are disagreements. However, overall, the Netherlands is known for its open and tolerant society.

In the Gender Equality Index 2020, based on data from 2018, Sweden again scored the highest with a score of 84, followed by Denmark with 77 and France with 75. The Netherlands ranked fifth with a score of 74. Although Denmark and the Netherlands have many similarities, both in terms of country and culture, there are also differences between these countries.

Regarding tolerance, the Netherlands excels in several areas. Some examples include:

• LGBTQ+ rights*: The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. In addition, the Netherlands has a very active LGBTQ+ community, and LGBTQ+ rights are generally well protected.
• Multicultural society: The Netherlands is a multicultural society and has a long history of immigration. Despite some challenges in terms of integration and discrimination, the Netherlands has managed to integrate different cultures and religions into society.
• Drug policy: The Netherlands is famous for its tolerance policy towards soft drugs, which means that the sale and possession of small amounts of drugs are allowed. This has resulted in low drug-related crime rates compared to other countries.
• Freedom of expression: The Netherlands has a strong tradition of freedom of expression and press freedom. This means that people are free to express their opinions, even if they are controversial.

In summary, the Netherlands is a pioneer in terms of tolerance, with specific emphasis on protecting LGBTQ+ rights, successful integration of different cultures and religions, the unique drug policy, and strong enforcement of freedom of expression and press freedom.

*What do the letters LGBTQ+ stand for? L = lesbian, H = gay, B = bisexual, T = transgender, I = intersex, Q = queer, and the + stands for all the other possible ways people can identify their gender or sexuality.