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Journal of Refugee Studies 2001 14(3):295-314; doi:10.1093/jrs/14.3.295
© 2001 by Oxford University Press
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Upon Closer Acquaintance: The Impact of Direct Contact with Refugees on Dutch Hosts

Marlie Hollands1

1 Amsterdam Research Institute for Global Issues and Development Studies (AGIDS), University of Amsterdam

This paper discusses some first results of a study among Dutch people who have close contact with asylum seekers and refugees due to their work as (voluntary) refugee workers or language tutors. In most cases these people are directly or indirectly associated with the Dutch Refugee Council, which has working groups throughout the Netherlands. The study is based on the assumption that integration is an interactive process of change that involves both refugees and people of the host society. This paper discusses the impact of direct contact with refugees on the specific circles of Dutch people who participated in the study. It is found that, due to this contact, participants generally gained a more differentiated insight into the reality of refugees as well as into the characteristics of their own society. However, if humanitarian commitment is not accompanied by sufficient political awareness about refugee issues and inter-ethnic relations, direct contact can also lead to disappointment and new prejudices.

Received November 2000. Revised August 2001.


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