Twelve years ago, in the summer of 2013, I arrived in the Netherlands without knowing that this country would become such a profound part of my life. Today, as I return to Spain, I write my final column for the Observant with immense gratitude and a touch of melancholy.
The Netherlands welcomed me with open arms. From the very beginning, I felt truly included. Dutch society, with its deep-rooted values of openness, tolerance, and pragmatism, made it easy for someone like me to find a home here. I was struck by how naturally diversity was accepted and even cherished in daily life: in classrooms, offices, cafés, and neighborhoods.
This cosmopolitan spirit is one of the greatest strengths of Dutch life. It is what has made Dutch universities among the most international and forward-thinking in the world. It is what has allowed companies based here to thrive globally. It is what made Maastricht, with its unique European character, feel like a tiny yet incredibly diverse microcosm.
But I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge certain concerns I feel as I leave. In recent years, political voices have grown louder that seek to redefine what it means to be Dutch in narrower, more exclusionary terms. They speak of a supposed homogeneity, a mythical past of cultural purity, as if the richness of Dutch society today were not the result of centuries of exchange, migration, and openness. I confess, I still don’t know what this “true Dutch identity” is supposed to be, but I do know that the Netherlands I fell in love with is anything but closed or uniform.
Despite these troubling currents, I remain hopeful. I have seen too much kindness, too much solidarity, too much curiosity and courage in the people I’ve met here to believe that the tide cannot be turned. I trust that the Netherlands will remember what made it strong in the first place: diversity is a feature, not a bug.
From Spain, I will continue to watch, cheer, and care. The Netherlands is no longer just a place on the map for me, it is a second home, one that will always occupy a special place in my heart. Thank you for twelve unforgettable years.
Pablo del Hierro was associate professor of history at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.