In the past decade, the political and economical elites of the Netherlands have increasingly had to face each other. Politicians, scholars, and the media usually are in favour of a multi-cultural society and advocate cultural relativism. They consider Islam as a religion among others and support the enlargement and deepening of the European Union.

Diametrically opposed to them, a considerable section of the population is against a dreaded European super state in which Islam plays a prominent role. These Dutch distrust their politicians and the media; they are ill-disposed towards Islam and fear the loss of their national identity. Quite often they vote for the Partij voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom, PVV) led by the right-wing populist Geert Wilders. For these voters not only the nation-state, but their world view is at stake.