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Polish Migrants in The Hague: Stories of Integration and Attachment

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Abstract

This paper examines the stories of long-term migrants from Poland that have settled in The Hague. Using in-depth interviews to learn about their migration histories, their characteristics, and their choices, much is learned about these Poles that live, work, and have started their families in The Hague. The patterns that emerged are characterized by doubt and hard work. There was little thought of long-term planning and choices were made rather haphazardly. A second finding is that ties with the receiving country are strong and ties with Poland are felt as being just as strong. These Polish migrants in The Hague participate in Dutch society to a high extent, even though contacts with non-migrated Dutch are low. Their integration is not weakened by the strong attachment to Poland or by the lack of contact with non-migrated Dutch. The results suggest that the difference between transnational and settlement migration might be smaller than described by Engbersen et al. (Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 39(6):959–981, 2013). This study sheds light on integration and participation processes within the context of the European Union.

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Notes

  1. Bulgarian and Romanian migrants were part of the study, the results were presented by nationality.

  2. Integratie met behoud van eigen cultuur, author’s translation.

  3. The Hague is administratively divided into eight districts. These districts are in turn divided into 44 boroughs. The 44 boroughs, are divided into 121 neighborhoods (www.denhaag.buurtmonitor.nl).

  4. In the Netherlands, different groups are included in population statistics. Authochtones are Dutch natives; allochthones are of migrant origin (being born abroad or one or two parents being born abroad). The group allochthones is then divided into western and non-western allochthones.

  5. A large greenhouse agriculture region is located just south of The Hague.

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  1. The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2125 EN, Den Haag, The Netherlands

    Karijn G. Nijhoff

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Nijhoff, K.G. Polish Migrants in The Hague: Stories of Integration and Attachment. Int. Migration & Integration 18, 623–640 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-016-0491-z

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