Dutch assimilation versus migrants’ hybridism: narratives of Poles in The Hague

Abstract

ABSTRACT Free movement for European Union citizens has created a new contemporary context for migration: border controls have been removed and labor markets in EU member states are open for all EU citizens. Additionally, the growth of communication and cheap and fast modes of transportation have enabled migrants to be more flexible in their migration choices. ‘Borderless’ Europe has created a migrant type that differs slightly from international migrants. In this paper stories of migrants, that would be considered ‘Marginal Men’, are used to look at Dutch integration and participation policies. In-depth interviews with three Polish migrants are used to explore how their lives are shaped in this new migration context. The narratives revealed rich detail about living in the margins and career trajectories. The unpredictability of the steps that these migrants have taken is possible because of the EU context. The respondents’ stories do not follow the lines of integration and participation as set out by Dutch national and local governments. The negative connotations linked to a lack of participation or integration do not do justice to the achievements of these men. The normative, linear perspective of the Dutch integration policy needs revision to include and support alternative migratory careers.