Religious and territorial identities in a cosmopolitan and secular city: Youth in amsterdam

Abstract

Religion is a much contested issue in Dutch politics and more specifically in Amsterdam. We investigate whether and how religion works as an obstacle or a vehicle for integration for youth in the secular and cosmopolitan Amsterdam. First, we describe the role religion played in the process of nation building and the position of Calvinism and other religions in Dutch national identity. Second, we introduce post-war changes in the Dutch religious landscape, discussing both secularization and de-pillarization and the increasing religious diversity brought by immigrants. Third, we present the recent public debates about religious and national identity and the position of Islam as new religion. We discuss a survey of young Amsterdammers from different ethnic backgrounds regarding their attitudes toward religious and territorial identities. The results reveals that organized religion is unlikely to provide an avenue to integration becaukse (a) there remain major differences in religiosity between ethnic groups as Islam isorganized along ethno-national and linguistic lines and (b) many religious young adults stress their individual relationship with faith. Religious affiliation does not necessarily mean attending church, mosque or temple regularly. There are also signs where religion might hinder integration, especially Muslim youth. They often feel discriminated against based on their religious beliefs and excluded from both Dutch national identity and a traditional religious landscape of pillarization between Protestants and Catholics. All youngsters strongly identify with Amsterdam and feel they belong to this secular and diverse cosmopolitan city.