According to a large survey prepared by TV program Netwerk and newspaper Nederlands Dagbald, 65% of the Dutch 'agree' or 'completely agree' that there should be a stop to the building of large mosques.
Bureau Intomart GfK questioned 1386 people, regarding their opinion about Islam in the Netherlands.
Most Dutch are concerned about the growth of Islam in the Netherlands and its influence on society. At the same time, a majority are also concerned about the negative manner in which Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV) speak about Islam.
59% of the Dutch think that in 40 years Islam would be at least as an important aspect of the Netherlands as Christianity is today. 57% say the increase in the number of Muslims threatens Dutch culture, and 53% say it threats freedom of religion. 61% don't think the radical movements in Islam in the Netherlands would disappear on their own.
The concern about Islam crosses political boundaries. 56% of Labor Party voters, 65% of Socialist Party voters, 67% of Christian Union voters and 87% of Political Reformed Party (SGP) voters, support stopping the building of large mosques. Voters of other parties support such a ban with the same measure of support or even greater.
Only GroenLinks (GreenLeft) voters (39%) and D66 voters (39%) are less supportive. The voters of the last two parties were much more moderate than other party supporters throughout the survey.
60% of PVV voters think the party can take a harsher position regarding Islam.
At the same time, the study shows that most Dutch are concerned about the PVV's tone. 69% are "concerned about the negative manner in which for example politicians of Wilders' party speak about Islam". 75% also think that "putting aside exceptions, Muslims are as peaceful as other people in the Netherlands".
Most Dutch have little contact with Muslims: 30% (almost) never have contact with Muslims, and 35% have sometimes.
The study focused on the ChristianUnion and SGP voters. ChristianUnion voters agreeing in general with teh average, while the SGP voters highly deviating. 83% of SGP voters were very convinced that the growth of Islam is a danger of freedom of religion, compared with 57% of ChristianUnion voters. 89% of SGP voters and 73% of ChristianUnion voters agreed that "worldwide many Muslims behave with intolerance towards the Christian faith".
29% of SGP voters think their party should take a harsher position against Islam, compared with 33% of ChristianUnion voters. Voters of both parties were certain that they won't vote for the PVV in the next election (87% of ChristianUnion voters and 86% of SGP voters).
Source: ND (Dutch)
