Cape Verde in the Netherlands

Introduction

The Netherlands is home to the second largest Cape Verdean community in Europe. More than 19 000 people in the Netherlands have at least one parent born in Cape Verde. The community developed after Cape Verdean men came to work on ships out of the port of Rotterdam in the 1960s. Later, many settled in the Rotterdam area and brought their families from Cape Verde. Through family reunification, the community has grown steadily despite the difficult employment situation and restrictive immigration policy. Links with Cape Verde remain strong, although there are big differences between the first and second generation in this respect.

This section of Dragoeiro.com is based on an ongoing research project (2002-2006) about connections between Cape Verde and the Cape Verdean community in the Netherlands, carried out by Jørgen Carling at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO). A short description of the project is available in Dutch and Portuguese. There is also a short academic presentation about the project under the migration section of Dragoeiro.com.

Please use the A-Z menu on the left to access individual pages. Some of the texts are currently very short, but they will be expanded, and more topics will be added, as the project develops. Your comments are very welcome (in English, Dutch, Portuguese or Kriol).

A big Thank You! to everybody who has helped me in the Netherlands and Cape Verde. Without your helpfullness this would never have been possible, and without your friendship, it would not have been as enjoyable.