The Dutch have a saying, "Wat de boer niet kent, eet hij niet." Literally it means "What the farmer isn't familiar with, he won't eat." This story appearing in the Dutch wire services today seems to run on these lines.
1 December 2008
http://www.nu.nl/news/1864190/10/Plattelanders_negatiever_over_allochtonen.html
AMSTERDAM – Results of a recent research by the Social-Cultural Planning Department has revealed that rural residents in the Netherlands are far more negative regarding immigrants living in their country than are urban residents.
When asked the question, “Are there too many immigrants in the Netherlands?” a total of 48% of rural residents responded in the affirmative. Only 37% of city dwellers did the same. These countryside residents also felt that immigrants must adapt to Dutch culture much more than did city residents. And finally, they felt that having diverse cultures contributing to Dutch society was not a positive development, in comparison to city residents. They felt that their own cultural traditions were alive and well, in comparison to those living in the city, and desired to keep them that way.
Familiarity Breeds Appreciation?
That there are far fewer immigrants living in the countryside than in the city can on the one hand lead to tensions between different populations. On the other hand, it can also lead towards a certain familiarity between the groups.
Rural residents are less negative regarding the arrival of new immigrant residents. 44% of the polled found, in fact, that the arrival of new groups contributed to a certain vibrancy to country living. Conversely, roughly 50% think that these newcomers will never assimilate into Dutch culture and see this as a threat to the cohesive social structure.
Only The Lonely
This social cohesion and livability is felt to be of a better quality in the country than in the city. There is less loneliness, a stronger feeling of safety in public spaces and more satisfaction with living conditions.
Cultural traditions are measurably stronger in the countryside than in the city. Nearly 85% of countryside dwellers, for example, claim to speak a local dialect.
(c) Novum
