How dialogue can counter polarisation in the Netherlands

After nearly 100 years of working for peace and security worldwide, since 2023, we have also turned our efforts towards reducing polarisation in the Netherlands. Although our country is known for its tolerance, we are witnessing a society that is becoming increasingly hardened. People are listening to each other less and less, leading to division, polarisation, and at times even violence. We are more and more confined to our own bubbles, with fewer opportunities to engage with "the other." By encouraging dialogue, we can break down the invisible walls between people.

Breaking barriers through dialogue

"Please take your shoes off," says Hakan Özkuzugüdenli as he welcomes a group of curious visitors to the Mescidi Aksa mosque. Hakan is the vice president of this Turkish prayer house, located in The Hague’s Schilderswijk neighbourhood. With genuine interest, the group asks him a variety of questions: What do the symbols on the walls mean? Where are the women in the mosque? Why is it especially busy here on Fridays? Hakan answers each question patiently and kindly. "I knew Friday was a holy day for Muslims, but now I also understand why," one of the participants remarks enthusiastically as he leaves the mosque.

Concerns about polarisation in the Netherlands

The mosque visit is the first stop on the Breaking the Walls Experience, a group walk through various neighbourhoods in The Hague. This experience kicked-off Mensen met een Missie’s recent work in the Netherlands to reduce polarisation. It's very necessary, as research by the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP) shows that three-quarters of Dutch people are concerned about the rise in polarisation. This is hardly surprising, given the increasingly heated political and public debate, especially on issues like climate change, nitrogen policy, and immigration, where tensions run high in politics and on social media.

The same SCP study also reveals that half of the Dutch population feels they need to be careful with their words. As a result, people tend to avoid difficult discussions, retreating more frequently into their own comfortable bubbles. This behaviour creates invisible walls, leading to divisions—between left and right, highly educated and less educated, rich and poor, religious and non-religious. We surround ourselves with like-minded people and rarely interact with those from different backgrounds or with different viewpoints. This only reinforces and perpetuates stereotypes.

Stepping out of the bubble

During the Breaking the Walls Experience, René Lotte (63) from Loosduinen and Ali Kammyte (49) from the Schilderswijk both recognise this sentiment. René shares, "I find it quite difficult to step out of my bubble. I notice that I often think I know what someone is like without really knowing them. I have to be careful not to put people into boxes." Ali is also aware of his assumptions: "I had quite a few prejudices about certain groups of people. I thought they were very closed off, and it would be hard to connect with them."

With as many as 130 different nationalities, The Hague is the most segregated city in the Netherlands, according to CBS statistics. Residents of the Statenkwartier neighbourhood rarely visit the Schilderswijk, and you're unlikely to find Scheveningen residents in Bezuidenhout. To counteract this division and bring people together, we organise the "Breaking the Walls Experience." Participants visit neighbourhoods they normally wouldn’t go to, and with the help of our dialogue experts, walkers and residents engage in deeper conversations. They are encouraged to explore their own conscious and subconscious prejudices about others and discuss them. In this way, they step out of their bubbles and make genuine connections with people they otherwise would never meet.

Being open to others

Nienke Vierstra, dialogue expert from Mensen met een Missie, also works in Uganda and Indonesia and sees similarities with the Netherlands in terms of polarisation: "Here, too, harmful beliefs and prejudices exist. Recently, the conflict in Gaza and the Dutch elections have been hot topics. These are issues where people have very different views. Instead of letting these events divide us, it's important to keep seeking connection. By being open to others’ experiences and engaging in dialogue, you can gain new insights, see things from a different perspective, and develop more understanding for others."

The Gaza conflict also came up during a conversation between René and Ali during the "Breaking the Walls Experience." René expressed his concerns: "I'm worried that if the war in Gaza continues, it will start to have an impact here in the Netherlands." Ali understood his fear: "Here in the Schilderswijk, we’re definitely seeing tensions rise because of what's happening in Gaza." Ali shared how he deals with it: "Along with a group of Muslims from the neighbourhood, I brought flowers to our Jewish neighbours. We wanted to let them know that they belong here, that we understand their emotions and fears." In most cases, the gesture was well received, though some doors remained closed. "Maybe the fear and prejudice were just too strong, and they didn’t dare open the door when they saw Muslims standing there. I understand that too. But actions like this walk are like pebbles thrown into a pond, where the positive impact spreads further with each ripple."

Talking really helps

The dialogue exercises ensure that people who would otherwise never interact truly engage in conversation. With questions, statements, and tips, Nienke inspires the participants of the walk to discuss difficult topics. She challenges them to reflect on the basic human needs and feelings and to recognise them in themselves and others. Together, they think about the prejudices they hold and how often they actually interact with "the other." René reflects: "Without this walk, I probably would never have spoken to Ali. But now, if I were to meet him again in town, I’d be happy to have a coffee with him!"

Mensen met een Missie in the Netherlands

The Breaking the Walls Experience was created by our partner Itai Cohn from Stichting BBIS, and is one of the activities that Mensen met een Missie runs in the Netherlands to break down invisible walls between people. In addition, we organise activities in community centres and are active at MBO Utrecht in Kanaleneiland, a school of 1,500 students from various backgrounds.