Research shows that second-generation Turkish and Moroccan immigrants with a higher education do not have a more positive image of the Dutch than less well-educated immigrants.

In his PhD research at Radboud University on ethnic hostility, Jochem Tolsma found that well-educated Dutch Moroccans and Dutch Turks have better access to the Dutch media, which frequently publish negative or critical reports about Dutch Moroccans in particular. This negatively influences the opinion of Dutch Moroccans and Turks about the Dutch. Less well-educated first and second-generation immigrants are not as exposed to these reports, and therefore less affected by them.

Mr Tolsma found the opposite effect with native Dutchmen: the better educated the second-generation immigrants, the more favourable the Dutch are likely to be towards them.

Dutch and Turkish flags at a party (Photo: FlickR/Kees@Eindhoven)