Flanders: 25% of children are of foreign origin

Flanders: 25% of children are of foreign origin

Via HLN:

The number of Turks and Moroccans in Flanders is grossly underestimated, according to a new study by the Flemish government.

7% have foreign nationality, but many immigrants naturalize and their children are considered Belgians. If the former nationality of the parents is taken into account, 15% of the people in Flanders in 2011 were of foreign origin. Among children 0-5, 25% are of foreign origin.

Most immigrants come from the Netherlands, Morocco and Turkey, with Italy far behind in 4th place. Most Dutch live along the border, South-Europeans and Turks in Limburg and Moroccans in Antwerp and Brussels.

Researchers Edith Lodewijckx and Jo Noppe conclude that the number of people of foreign origin is 2.2 times higher than the number of foreign nationals. This underestimation factor goes up to 3.4% among youth younger than 17.