A ‘sunny destination’ for minority groups? Dutch emigration 1945–1965

Abstract

The years 1945–1965 form a key period in the history of migration governance because the role of states increased, and ngo s (non-governmental organisations), igo s (intergovernmental organisations) and the media became more involved in migration governance. In this period, the Dutch authorities strongly stimulated emigration. In this article, we focus on three groups of people whose emigration plans met with obstacles: Jews, Dutch people of colour and war-time collaborators. These groups were very different, but it is at the points at which their migrations were problematised that we can see how, when, by whom and why restrictions were introduced. Precisely the differences between the groups bring out key elements of the problematisation of emigration. Ideas about the desired composition of the Dutch population played a decisive role for all actors involved, despite the diversity in arguments that were used, and postwar ideals about human rights.