Netherlands: Minority rights generally well respected for Frisian minority but could be extended to other communities

The minority rights of the Frisian minority in the Netherlands are generally well protected, say Council of Europe experts, but they are too often limited to the province of Fryslân (Friesland).

The protection granted by the Council of Europe's national minorities convention should also be applied to other interested groups - notably Roma and Sinti, Woonwagenbewoners (Dutch Travellers) and Papiamentu-speakers in the European part of the Netherlands. Moreover, the general climate of tolerance and understanding in the country is under strain.

These are among the main findings of the latest opinion on the Netherlands by the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (see the summary of the opinion in Dutch)

The Advisory Committee welcomes significant investments in the province of Fryslân by both the central authorities and the provincial government - in particular in the fields of education, language and culture - as well as the clear definition of the authorities' respective competences in this area. Nevertheless, the committee notes that the general lack of teachers in the Netherlands particularly affects the Frisian language and the limited opportunities for accessing Frisian language rights at all levels of education - including pre-school and university - is a concern.

The Advisory Committee's Fourth Opinion on the Netherlands, which includes a number of recommendations for immediate and further action, will be considered by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers for appropriate follow-up.

Press release

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Netherlands