This is evident from the first quarterly report of 2018 on the Continuous Survey Citizen Perspectives (COB). The Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) pays attention to the mood in the Netherlands and views on political and social issues..
The main conclusions:
- For the first time since 2008, more optimists than pessimists about the Netherlands.
- The Dutch are positive about local government, but little interested.
- Skepticism about decentralization of the social domain remains high.
- Polarized views on national politics and democracy.
More optimists than pessimists for the first time
The share of people who think the country is moving in the right direction rather than the wrong way has skyrocketed from 35% in the last quarter of 2017 to 49% now. For the first time since early 2008, there are more optimists than pessimists. Compared to the previous quarter, there is also more confidence in the judiciary, the House of Representatives and the government.
The mood about the economy has become even more positive. Satisfaction with the economy and the expectation that the economy will at least stay the same are at their highest since early 2008.
In this positive mood about the economy, more people are concerned about poverty. In response to an open question about the biggest social problems in our country, 12% spontaneously mention something with 'poor(ede)'; in previous quarters it was 7%.
The Dutch are positive about local government, but little interested
Satisfaction with the administration of their own municipality (79% gives a pass) is greater than with politics in The Hague (57% pass) and the difference in appreciation is increasing as a trend. But people are more likely to follow national political news (77%) than local (57%), and they are more likely to talk to friends and family about national political issues (92%) than local ones (75%).
Skepticism about decentralization in the social domain remains high
Citizens' views on decentralization in the social domain are still more negative than on the eve of it in 2014. About half of the population (currently 50% of the respondents, at the end of 2014 46%) still see more disadvantages than advantages. They mainly mention the cutbacks, the limited expertise of municipalities, inequality between municipalities and the complexity of the system. About one eighth (currently and at the end of 2014 13%) actually see more benefits. It is argued above all that support is arranged closer to the citizens and can thus be better tailored to individual situations.
Polarized views on politics and democracy
There is a strong connection between the view that politicians do not listen and the view that it would be good if citizens had a more direct influence on important decisions. These views are much more popular among the lower educated and the supporters of the SP, PVV and the Forum for Democracy (FvD) than among the higher educated and the supporters of D66, GroenLinks and VVD.
Expertise, independence and good intentions inspire confidence
When trusting information sources, expertise and independence are important, as are (good) intentions. Information sources that people suspect of influence, conflict of interest or dishonesty enjoy the least trust. For example, information from the pharmaceutical industry (about vaccination) is not trusted because of its commercial interests. Newspapers and TV are under suspicion of distorting facts or even spreading lies to attract more attention. Information from other citizens on the internet is distrusted because of the lack of expertise and because sources and statements are difficult to verify.
Source: Continuous Citizen Perspectives Survey 2008/1-2018/1
That of more optimists than pessimists will not apply to Dutch people in Thailand, I fear.
All pessimists have recently migrated from the Netherlands to Thailand, so that on balance the Netherlands is now the land of smiles. 🙂
(serious hat on: many grumblers who say they are going to emigrate do not actually do so, then our country would already be half empty)
Although it is not my life's dream for various reasons, I can still understand people who have the desire to spend the evening of life in Thailand with their Thai wife.
Tastes, reasons, and circumstances etc. cannot, or hardly, be compared, and what does not seem so good to one person does not necessarily have to be the worst for another.
What I have no understanding for, but that will also be a personal opinion, are people who act as if nothing was good in their home country, and now act as if everything is so much better in Thailand.
With such an opinion, I always wonder whether they exchanged their wits, how far this was still available, for a few blinks of the eye upon landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and an unhealthy portion of self-giving.
The reason why many grumblers in the Netherlands do not put their wish to emigrate into action is their uncertainty whether it will really get better, because they have an awareness somewhere that the Netherlands is not so bad as there are often grumbles.
Tastes differ. I think the Netherlands is a great country to leave and to come home to. From the Netherlands, the world is at your feet, while you remain safely embedded between pension and health insurance and the certainties that a Dutch passport offers you.
You don't easily hear me talk bad about the frog country, except that it is better to avoid it from October to April ...
It will be the national character of the Dutch not to go through life whistling like the Italians.
Yet this piece is not only hosanna, but there are quite a few comments to make.
49% think things have improved in the Netherlands, what do the other 51% think? But the glass is half full!
More people (12%) are concerned about poverty than before.
Decentralization is perceived more negatively: cutbacks, limited expertise, inequality between municipalities and the complexity of the system.
Not being able to read enough positive developments, unless this refers to the traditional white family; Daddy
with daughter, mom with son. The picture is good for an insurance policy.
Hi Khan Peter,
you write that you fear that the Dutch in Thailand are more pessimists than optimists. So what is your fear based on? Maybe by number of complainers on this blog? People who are having a good time complain much less. Don't know how many Dutch people living in Thailand look at this blog, otherwise a poll might provide more clarity. Incidentally, really Dutch again to put it that way. To be clear, I am and will always be an optimist.
this kind of message fits well just before elections (but they have already been) but in terms of content there is little or nothing wrong with it.
I have no reason to complain (it serves my time) but see that the Netherlands (the Dutch citizen) is not doing well and that is not only the fault of the Dutch government… it is going on everywhere with here and there an exception in the third world.
Since yesterday, citizens can seriously take into account additional costs for replacing their central heating boiler; in itself it is understandable that our Groningen fellow citizens are proven right in their protest, but every measure has its cost. But the average optimist (of which there are apparently so many) will cough up that 🙂
Fortunately, I don't have a central heating boiler, but city heating.
With a government that is drooling in the street because they have just decided to spend the next twelve years in complete blindness an as yet completely unknown, but decidedly astronomical amount of extra money as part of the energy transition, and a prime minister who decides to does not recommend saving for a € 9000 heat exchanger while an ordinary € 2500 central heating boiler will be banned in 3 years, and when asked how the hell it should all be paid for, gets away with the completely stupid 'We'll see then again', of course you cannot expect the common people to have a somewhat coherent realistic vision of the future.
Are you writing an alternative to the Groot Dictee der Nederlandse Taal, Frans?
Every time I return to the Netherlands from anywhere in the world, I realize all too well how prosperous we are in the Netherlands (EU). It is fine to stay abroad with a Dutch pension, but also look around you to see how the population of the country where you are staying is faring. Try to live on the money that a normal person earns in your host country or, if he/she is older, how much pension that person receives. Of course, you also have to be sensible in the Netherlands (and Belgium) and think about the future as a worker. Simply think about your pension provisions. The complainers are often the simpletons who think that the government should take care of this. Europe is also not a lazy country, but socially speaking it is the very best part of the world.
Just name me one country where it is better. M curious.
Yes, the only comment I can make is that you can put it on paper as they want to see it at the SCP because those officials know it, but I get doubts when I see the last municipal elections, look because of the seats distributions , but they will see it I do not believe in it.