Imagine a country where no one falls outside the circle of care

 

6. A Just and Humane Netherlands – General Principles

“Imagine a country where no one falls outside the circle of care.”

A sustainable, just, and dignified society requires an overarching vision that connects all policy domains. That vision is not arbitrary: it is rooted in the core values that have sustained our country for generations and must now once again provide direction.

• Humanity means people are never reduced to means or numbers but are always seen as ends in themselves.

• Justice means burdens and opportunities are shared fairly, and society protects its most vulnerable.

• Freedom means that everyone, regardless of background, can shape their life without fear or exclusion.

• Equality guarantees that no one is disadvantaged because of origin, gender, or conviction.

• Solidarity (brotherhood) reminds us we are strongest when we carry one another and are not played off against each other.

• And the rule of law is the foundation that ensures these values are not subject to the whims of the majority but apply to every person.

This vision is therefore not a technocratic plan but a moral compass that guides politics, governance, and daily life together.

6.1 Humanity as the Standard: policy tested against human dignity

The human person is central—not as a means to an economic end, but as an end in themselves. This principle, already found in the philosopher Immanuel Kant (“act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means”), is the core of a just society. Policy choices must never be measured solely by growth in GDP or economic efficiency, but always tested for their effects on human dignity, wellbeing, and equal opportunity.

This means, for example, that labor migrants must not be seen solely as cheap labor, but as people with rights, dreams, and families. That older people are not merely “cost items” in healthcare, but individuals with a dignified life behind and ahead of them. That young people are not judged only by their future contribution to the economy, but also have a right to a healthy, safe, opportunity-rich youth.

Too often, policy is justified primarily with macroeconomic figures: growth, employment, purchasing-power charts. Of course these numbers matter, but they do not tell the whole story. A rising economy can go hand in hand with growing inequality. Higher productivity can coincide with more stress and burnout. A declining public deficit can coincide with hollowed-out public services. When humans are reduced to means, we lose sight of what policy truly means for daily life.

Hence the need to ask explicitly for every proposal: what does this mean for human dignity, wellbeing, and equal opportunities? Does it do justice to the vulnerable? Does it give young people perspective? Does it ensure no one is left behind?

A society that puts the person first recognizes that not everything can be captured in numbers. Dignity cannot be expressed in percentages. Connectedness is not a market share. And trust cannot be created by spreadsheets. The question is whether people feel seen, heard, and valued.

This perspective changes the logic of politics and policy. The question is no longer: “What does this yield in economic terms?” but: “What does this mean for people?” That is not romantic idealism but practical necessity. Policy that ignores the human scale will sooner or later run aground in mistrust, protest, and social disruption. The childcare-benefits scandal is a painful example: efficient systems and rigid rules were deemed more important than human justice—with disastrous consequences.

One example: in the debate on labor migration, the emphasis often lies on economic gains for employers and the state. But the human perspective—housing, integration, family life—receives too little attention. An integral vision requires that policy not get stuck in economic calculations but ensure that people can live in dignity, regardless of origin or position.

A just Netherlands therefore always puts the person first—not as a means but as an end. Only then can freedom, equality, and justice gain real meaning in everyday life.

6.2 Empathy and honesty as political guideposts

Empathy and honesty are indispensable core values of good policy. Empathy means policy sees the position of others—not only of the majority, but also of minorities and vulnerable groups that are often hit the hardest. Honesty requires transparency about choices and consequences, in success and in failure. Together they form the moral compass needle that keeps policy humane.

The COVID crisis painfully showed the importance of empathy. Older people in care homes were isolated from loved ones, sometimes for months. People in vital but low-paid jobs—cleaners, supermarket staff, parcel couriers—did not have the luxury of working from home and faced higher infection risks. For families in small homes or without digital access, remote schooling became a source of inequality. Empathetic policy would ensure these groups are not forgotten but explicitly included—in protective measures, support packages, and recognition.

Honesty demands the government acknowledge its own shortcomings. During the pandemic, information was too often withheld or shared too late, fueling mistrust. The “face-mask deal” and poor communication around vaccination campaigns are examples where transparency was lacking. Citizens are entitled to full information—even when it is painful or imperfect. The same holds for the childcare-benefits affair: for years the government downplayed the problem and ignored signals from trapped parents. Only when investigative journalism and victims themselves brought the truth to light did change begin.

Honesty means the government does not mask mistakes but recognizes and corrects them. Only then can trust be restored. Empathy means policy is not blind to statistics or macroeconomic interests but centers the lives of real people. As Desmond Tutu said: “Ultimately politics is about people. If it’s not about people, it’s about nothing.”

Empathy without honesty is sentimentality; honesty without empathy is coldness. Only together do they produce policy that is both credible and humane. In a time of pressure on institutional trust, that is precisely what reassures citizens that government is there for them—not for systems or statistics, but for flesh-and-blood people.

6.3 The common good above group interests: choices in service of everyone

Policy must always be oriented toward the wellbeing of society as a whole. Group interests—political, economic, or ideological—must not overshadow the collective interest. When one sector, lobby, or group gains disproportionate influence, the core of the democratic rule of law is undermined: policy must work for all citizens, not just a few.

The nitrogen debate is a telling example. The interests of agriculture, nature, construction, and citizens collide. For too long, economic and sectoral interests—like large-scale intensive farming—dominated policy, with major damage to nature, climate, and living environment. At the same time, farmers feel cornered and threatened in their livelihoods. An integral vision seeks solutions that balance interests: combine nature restoration with a sustainable future perspective for farmers, and create space for urgently needed housebuilding. The collective interest—a liveable and sustainable future—must lead.

The risks of group interests go beyond domestic polarization. When certain interests structurally outweigh the common good, space opens for corruption and foreign interference. Examples abroad show how dangerous this can be. In Hungary, media interests and farm subsidies have been used to entrench political power. In Italy and Greece, foreign investments in strategic sectors (ports, energy) have created political dependencies. The Netherlands also faces risks: foreign funding of religious institutions or multinational lobbying to shape regulation in their favor.

Corruption and foreign interference are insidious threats: they undermine public trust, sideline institutions, and make a country vulnerable to external pressure. That is why policy must be transparent, auditable, and independent. The common good is protected only when decision-making is resilient against lobbies, financial pressure, and geopolitical influence.

A strong positive example lies in citizens’ assemblies and independent plan bureaus that seek broadly supported solutions. There, diverse perspectives are included without a single interest dominating. As Martha Nussbaum stated: “A just society requires us to put ourselves in the place of the other.” That means policy looking beyond returns or the short term to how it makes society as a whole fairer and more liveable.

The core is clear:

• The collective interest must always weigh more than any single group interest.

• Transparency and oversight are necessary to prevent corruption and foreign influence.

• Future-proof policy seeks balance among interests, oriented toward wellbeing, sustainability, and democratic resilience.

Once group interests steer the course, society threatens to fall apart. Only a clear focus on the common good keeps the Netherlands free, just, and humane.

6.4 Freedom and equality belong together: no freedom without equal opportunity

Freedom, equality, and solidarity are not separate ideals but inseparably linked. Freedom without equal opportunity is an empty promise; equality without freedom becomes stifling; and solidarity without the other two degenerates into arbitrary loyalty. Together they form the backbone of a just society.

Freedom is more than the absence of coercion; it is the capacity to choose your own life path—regardless of origin, gender, religion, or social position. For a student, study or career choice should not depend on parents’ wallets or postcode. For a young woman, freedom means raising her voice—online and offline—without being reduced to her gender.

Equality demands that people’s chances are not determined by their surname or skin color. Yet research by the SCP and the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights repeatedly shows applicants with a non-Western name are invited less often, even with equal qualifications. Discrimination in the labor market is a structural barrier that undermines the promise of equality. Here the maxim holds: without equal opportunity, no real freedom.

Solidarity is the social glue that holds a society together. It appears in neighborhood co-ops organizing care for vulnerable neighbors, or energy co-ops where residents jointly invest in rooftop solar. In crises—like welcoming Ukrainian refugees—solidarity shone in countless citizens who opened their homes. Solidarity is no abstraction; it is daily practice.

These three values reinforce each other. A society that cherishes free speech but structurally disadvantages women or minorities undermines itself. A society that promises equal chances but abandons people in housing or healthcare is no community of solidarity. And solidarity without freedom and equality risks turning into exclusion—caring only for “one’s own.”

As John Rawls put it: “The justice of a society is measured by how it treats its least advantaged members.” Freedom, equality, and solidarity are not stand-alone ideals but the yardstick of how humane and just a society truly is.

6.5 The rule of law protects us all—even the unpopular and vulnerable

The democratic rule of law is more than a set of rules and institutions—it is the foundation of a society centered on humanity, justice, and freedom.

A rule-of-law state means government power is limited by law, citizens have equal rights, and independent courts safeguard those rights. “Democratic” adds that laws are made by elected representatives and citizens wield influence through elections, participation, and consultation. Democracy and rule of law belong together: without the rule of law, democracy can degenerate into tyranny of the majority; without democracy, the rule of law becomes a cold technocracy.

Human rights are central. They are the moral and legal core protecting citizens against arbitrariness and abuse of power. Freedom of expression, equal treatment, privacy, education, and protection of minorities are not luxuries but guarantees that every person can exist as a full human being. Human rights codify the idea that every person has intrinsic worth—regardless of origin, religion, gender, or conviction.

They are an expression of humanity: you are protected not because you are clever, rich, or popular, but simply because you are human. They set the moral boundary politics may not cross. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home…” Rights are not abstract; they gain meaning in daily life: at school, at work, on the street, in the family.

Undermining the rule of law—e.g., suggesting the Netherlands should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights—goes far beyond a legal-technical question. It attacks the basis of our recognition that rights are universal and must not depend on majority wishes or political expediency. It also puts at risk the protection of the most vulnerable—asylum seekers, religious minorities, LGBTI people, and outspoken critics.

The rule of law is not just a set of statutes but a culture of trust and humanity: trust that each person is equal, that power is bounded, that the vulnerable are not fair game. Human rights are the touchstone. Without them, words like freedom, equality, and solidarity lose their substance.

Claude Lefort emphasized that democracy’s strength lies in institutionalizing difference: creating space where disagreements are resolved peacefully and minorities are protected rather than oppressed. And Hannah Arendt stressed that “the right to have rights” is the essence of human dignity.

Therefore: defending the democratic rule of law is more than a political task—it is a moral duty. It is the choice to place humanity above power, law above arbitrariness, and protection above exclusion.

6.6 Living together as a core principle

Living together means more than existing side by side; it requires actively building trust, connectedness, and respect.

A society split into “us” and “them” loses its foundation. Hate, division, polarization, and populism may bring quick political gains, but they are no answer to today’s big challenges—from climate and housing to healthcare and international security. What is truly needed are values like respect, dialogue, and a willingness to compromise.

In practice: Mixed neighborhoods, where children attend school together, youth meet on sports fields, and residents cross paths in community centers, often foster more understanding and solidarity than segregated settings. People learn to know each other as neighbors, classmates, teammates—not as caricatures of an “other group.” These everyday encounters strengthen the social fabric.

When politicians deliberately sow division—as often happens in migration debates by portraying refugees and Muslims as threats—coexistence is undermined. Focus shifts from what binds to what separates, with real-world effects: discrimination in the labor market, distrust on the street.

Diversity must be seen as a source of strength, not fear. Numerous studies, including by Harvard’s Robert Putnam, show that while diverse societies can experience initial tension, over the long run they become more innovative, creative, and resilient. Companies with diverse teams perform better because different perspectives yield better solutions. In arts, science, and the economy, diversity has repeatedly driven progress.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s notion of interbeing fits seamlessly here: we are all connected; no one lives in isolation; our wellbeing is intertwined. “We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” In society, that means injustice against one is injustice against all. Discrimination against Muslims, LGBTI people, or women does not affect only them—it weakens the social fabric we all inhabit.

Philosophers like Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen likewise stress that living with differences is the core of democratic maturity: handling plurality without reducing it to hostility. As Nussbaum puts it: “The ability to see the world through another’s eyes is the basis of both compassion and justice.”

The choice is clear: a society based on fear and exclusion is brittle and conflict-prone, while one that embraces diversity and interconnection grows stronger and more humane. The core principle must be to build bridges, not walls. Only then can we truly speak of living together—in the deepest sense.

6.7 Facts over feelings in policy

Regulation and policy must rest on facts, science, and careful analysis—not on short-term emotions or populist sentiments.

A democracy steered by the whim of the day, slogans, or gut feelings loses its capacity to tackle structural problems effectively. Hence the indispensable role of independent knowledge institutes, universities, and a free press. They are the foundations that prevent politics from becoming theater and policy from being based on perception rather than reality.

Example: climate change. The IPCC presents hard data on the consequences of warming: extreme weather, biodiversity loss, rising seas, growing displacement. These are not opinions but established scientific facts. Politicians who downplay or distort these findings to sow doubt undermine not only climate policy but public trust in institutions and science.

We see this mechanism elsewhere. During the pandemic, countries that relied on scientific advice and transparent communication—such as New Zealand or Denmark—managed the crisis better than those where leaders spread disinformation or chased short-term popularity.

Hannah Arendt warned that the loss of facts in public discourse breeds authoritarian tendencies: the total substitution of lies for factual truth destroys our bearings in the real world. When facts blur, citizens lose orientation and society becomes vulnerable to manipulation.

Policy must therefore rest on reliable data and independent journalism. Institutes like CBS, SCP, and PBL in the Netherlands—alongside IPCC and Eurostat—must not only be able to do their work but be protected from political pressure. Journalism likewise must prioritize facts over sensation and refuse a platform to hateful or misleading messages.

In short: facts are not a luxury but the foundation of humane and just policy. Only by grounding choices in research and truth can trust be restored and the democratic rule of law function as intended.

6.8 A comprehensive narrative

Society needs more than isolated measures: it needs a binding story. A narrative that shows how today’s challenges—climate change, growing inequality, digitalization, migration—are interwoven. Emphasizing coherence is the only way to build broad support for necessary transitions.

Example: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN’s 17 goals offer a framework used worldwide. Its success lies not in perfection but in shared direction: a collective vision of a just, sustainable, and inclusive future. A national narrative can play a similar role—linking sustainability, social justice, and democratic values into one common path.

Such a story must make clear that sustainability is inseparable from security of livelihood; that freedom is inseparable from equality; and that justice is real only when no group is structurally excluded. These are not parallel tracks but links in a single chain. Amartya Sen has emphasized that freedom is both a goal and a means: people only have real freedom when basic rights, education, and security of livelihood are guaranteed.

The core values are the building blocks:

• Humanity ensures policy keeps the human scale.

• Justice prevents groups from being left behind or excluded.

• Freedom and equality make diversity a strength, not a source of conflict.

• Solidarity (connectedness) ensures we truly live together rather than past each other.

• The rule of law protects these values and guarantees they are not left to arbitrariness or majority whim.

Such an integrating narrative is more than a list of goals; it is a moral compass that gives direction in uncertainty and crisis. As Manuel Castells notes: people do not change the world with facts alone, but with stories that convince them change is possible.

Creating an overarching narrative is thus not a luxury but a necessity. It offers citizens, policymakers, and institutions a shared perspective on the future—where sustainability, justice, and democracy are not separate ambitions but links in a common path toward a more humane society.

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7. Democracy, Rule of Law, and Society in Balance

The strength of our society lies not in fear and division, but in humanity and trust.

7.1 Introduction

In the 21st century, the Netherlands faces interconnected challenges. Polarization, economic inequality, migration, climate change, and pressure on institutions may seem separate, but they interlock. Precisely in these interconnections it becomes clear that the democratic rule of law is not merely an institutional edifice but a living system requiring constant maintenance, adaptation, and re-valuation.

This chapter maps the tensions and prospects arising from that interdependence. Central throughout is the question: how do we preserve and strengthen democracy’s core values—freedom, equality, humanity, solidarity, and justice—at a time when they are under pressure?

7.2 Polarization and the erosion of trust

Polarization is more than disagreement; it is a process of magnifying oppositions, pitting groups against each other, and eroding trust in institutions and one another. Media and social networks play a crucial role; the logic of framing and algorithms rewards conflict and outrage, often crowding out nuance.

The consequences for democracy are serious. When citizens feel unheard, space opens for populist movements offering simple answers to complex problems. This dynamic breeds mistrust in politics—and in the rule of law itself. Restoring trust requires more than technocratic fixes: it calls for a culture of dialogue, listening, recognition, and inclusion.

7.3 Economic inequality and social cohesion

The gap between rich and poor is growing. International comparisons show the top ten percent owns over sixty percent of total wealth. This undermines democratic legitimacy, as opportunities are unevenly distributed and groups feel structurally excluded.

The rule of law is a bulwark against arbitrariness and an instrument to promote justice, but that promise loses credibility when social and economic inequality rises. Education, healthcare, and social security are thus not merely economic files; they are foundations of democratic stability. Fair taxation, redistribution, and public investment are necessary to support and connect society.

7.4 Migration, diversity, and the myth of “Islamization”

Migration has been part of Dutch history for centuries—from Flemish weavers in the 16th century to guest workers in the 20th. Each time, migration brought economic and cultural dynamism, but also tension. Today, the debate is dominated by a sense of threat. The notion of “Islamization” suggests Islam would gradually take over society and the rule of law.

The facts contradict this. About six percent of the population is Muslim, a share that has barely grown since 2010. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, while Articles 90–94 oblige the Netherlands to promote the international legal order and give many treaties—such as the ECHR—primacy over national law. It is legally impossible for religious law to replace the democratic rule of law.

The real question is not whether migration threatens democracy, but how to build a society recognizing diversity as strength. Integration, combating discrimination, and equal opportunities are key. The answer lies in mutual trust and the recognition that citizenship depends not on origin but on participation.

7.5 Climate and intergenerational justice

Climate change is not only ecological or technological; it is also moral and democratic—about the relation between present and future generations. Today’s choices determine their freedom, safety, and security.

This poses a unique challenge: how to organize decision-making that serves not only short-term interests but the long term? The tension between economic growth and sustainability shows politics must constantly balance. Citizen initiatives, climate assemblies, and international cooperation offer ways to assume responsibility beyond national borders.

7.6 The role of institutions

Institutions of the rule of law—government, parliament, judiciary, independent bodies—are designed as checks and balances. Their importance becomes most visible under pressure. Independent courts, parliamentary oversight, and advisory bodies like the Council of State and the Court of Audit are indispensable to prevent arbitrariness and concentration of power.

Constitutional Articles 90–94 underscore that the Netherlands cannot lock itself into national politics alone: they oblige the state to promote the international legal order and recognize the effect of treaties and decisions of international organizations. Dutch democracy is embedded in a broader global context. Justice and peace are thus not only domestic aims but international obligations.

7.7 Democratic renewal and engaged citizenship

Democracy’s legitimacy stands or falls with citizen engagement. In a time of declining trust, renewal is essential. New forms of participation—citizens’ assemblies, deliberative panels, online consultations—can narrow the gap between citizens and politics.

Participation is no magic wand. Democracy is not a spectator sport; it demands active involvement, responsibility, and willingness to compromise. Citizens must feel not only represented but that their voice makes a difference. Only then can democracy fulfill its promise of equality and co-determination.

7.8 Connectedness and moral compass

Today’s crises are not only political and economic but above all moral. When freedom is abused to spread hate, equality shrinks into inequality, and connectedness yields to enemy-thinking, democracy loses credibility. The core values of humanity, justice, and solidarity are not abstractions but anchors of our common life.

These values must be translated over and over into concrete policy. That requires courage from politicians, responsibility from institutions, and involvement from citizens. Only then can democracy not only survive but renew itself.

7.9 Conclusion: the open future

Dutch democracy and the rule of law are the result of centuries of struggle, reform, and compromise. They are resilient but not invulnerable. Polarization, inequality, migration, and climate change pose challenges that strike at the heart of our common life.

The future remains open. The question is not only whether institutions hold, but whether we dare make the moral and social choices needed to safeguard freedom, equality, and humanity. Do we choose a society led by fear images and division—or do we build a humane and just Netherlands, firmly anchored in the rule of law and the international community?

The answer does not lie in institutions alone—it lies in all of us.

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8. Imagine the Netherlands…

“The future is not fate but a choice.”

Imagine: A humane Netherlands
Imagine a Netherlands where no one feels excluded. Where politics is not driven by the sharpest soundbite but by the questions: what is just, what is humane? A society where institutions protect us; where economy and climate are in balance; where education and healthcare offer opportunities for all; and where migration evokes not fear, but pride.

We stand at a crossroads. Housing shortages, inequality, migration, climate change, and pressure on the rule of law are often discussed separately, but in reality they are intertwined. The core question is simple yet fundamental: do we want a society where the strongest wins—or do we build together a society grounded in humanity, justice, and democratic stability?

Imagine: a democracy that connects
The democratic rule of law is the backbone of the Netherlands, yet trust is eroding. Imagine a political debate not driven by insinuations but by listening and solving together. Where citizens’ assemblies let people co-decide on difficult issues—climate or migration—and their voice truly counts. Where public participation is no box-ticking exercise but a process in which citizens see how their ideas were weighed.

In this Netherlands, judges are inviolably independent, the press is free, and transparency leaves no room for conflicts of interest. Democracy here is no spectator sport: it is carried by active participation, mutual respect, and the conviction that differences are not threats but sources of wisdom.

Imagine: a fair economy
Today the richest ten percent own more than 60% of all wealth, while the bottom half together own less than 1%. Imagine this being different. Nurses, teachers, and sanitation workers are no longer structurally underpaid but valued according to the worth of their work. Young people do not see savings evaporate in sky-high rents but have a fair shot at a first home.

In this Netherlands, wealth is shared more fairly through progressive taxation. Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economy provides the frame: the economy must not fall below a social foundation—no one without housing, healthcare, or education—nor exceed planetary boundaries like CO₂ emissions and resource depletion. Growth is no longer an end in itself. Real development means everyone has real freedoms to live a dignified life.

Imagine: a world in connectedness
In a world where authoritarian leaders advance, the Netherlands cannot withdraw behind dikes and borders. Imagine a Netherlands using its voice for peace, human rights, and international cooperation; a country that stands for the rule of law in the EU even when uncomfortable; that prioritizes diplomacy and conflict prevention over military power while contributing to security in a European framework.

A Netherlands that knows: the freedom of people in Ukraine or Iran is connected to our own. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: “Universal human rights begin in small places, close to home.”

Imagine: just climate policy
Climate change directly threatens our future. Sea levels rise while hundreds of thousands face energy poverty. Imagine a Netherlands where fossil subsidies are history; where billions now going to oil and gas are invested in insulating homes, installing solar, and building wind parks.

Here, climate policy is not only about CO₂ reduction but social justice. Families no longer choose between a warm room and an affordable bill. Energy poverty disappears because the transition starts with the most vulnerable households. The transition becomes not only green, but fair.

Imagine: truth as a foundation
Truth and facts are democracy’s oxygen. Yet conspiracy theories and hate campaigns poison society. Imagine a Netherlands where disinformation cannot so easily divide people; where tech firms must make algorithms transparent; where independent investigative journalism is supported so citizens always have access to reliable information.

And imagine schools where children learn to distinguish facts from opinions; where media literacy is as basic as math or language. A generation grows up that does not believe everything it sees, but handles information critically and respectfully.

Imagine: migration without fear
Migration is often presented as a threat, but behind numbers are people. Imagine a Netherlands where the Polish nurse caring for our parents, the Syrian teacher back in front of a classroom, and the Nigerian student working on sustainable innovation are seen as part of “us.”

Asylum procedures are swift and careful, bringing clarity. Family reunification is protected because family is a foundation of humanity. Labor migrants are not exploited in cramped lodgings but receive decent housing and working conditions. Migration here is a source of pride: an enrichment of society.

Imagine: equal chances in education
Education determines the future. Imagine a Netherlands where origin does not determine who you become; where every child—whether their parents are doctors, bus drivers, or cleaners—has equal chances to study and develop.

Free early-childhood education closes gaps. Extra support for struggling students and mixed schools that foster social cohesion ensure no one falls behind. Citizenship education is not confined to a separate subject but pervades all lessons: respectful debate, thinking in facts, growing empathy. A generation matures that understands democracy is not just rules, but a culture of living together.

Imagine: housing as a fundamental right
The housing crisis affects hundreds of thousands. Imagine a country where housing is once again treated as a fundamental right; where nurses, young couples, and status holders are no longer stuck without a home but find affordable housing.

Large-scale social-housing projects are launched. Vacancy is addressed; the private rental market is fairly regulated. Homelessness is not tolerated but solved through shelter and housing. Roma, Sinti, and caravan-dwellers are finally treated fairly; labor migrants no longer live in degrading conditions. Housing is not a mere market commodity, but the basis of a dignified life.

Imagine: humane healthcare
Health is not a luxury but a human right. Imagine a Netherlands where no one delays medication due to co-pays; where the elderly do not wait months for surgery but are helped in time.

Healthcare serves people, not profit. Public provisions guarantee affordability and quality. Prevention gets its due: investing in healthy food, exercise, and a clean environment yields wellbeing and economic gains. Internationally, the Netherlands shares vaccines and medicines fairly with countries that cannot afford them—because pandemics do not stop at borders.

In the end: choosing together
Imagine all this: a democracy that connects; an economy that is fair; climate policy that is green and social; education that offers opportunity; healthcare that is humane; housing restored as a right.

A Netherlands where politics is not the game of division but of connection; where solidarity outweighs mistrust; where justice is not abstract but the measure of daily life. This is no dream—it can become reality if we choose it together.

As John Rawls wrote: “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions.” Justice is not just one value among others; it is the foundation on which our society rests.

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9. Now Is the Moment

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln

We began with the image of a young woman cycling through The Hague—free and vulnerable at once. That everyday scene stands for the freedom, equality, and humanity that sustain our society—and for the threats that loom: polarization, populism, and growing mistrust pulling us apart.

The preceding chapters showed the scale of the challenges: a housing crisis squeezing young families; a healthcare system where nurses are structurally overburdened; a migration and integration debate too often dominated by slogans rather than facts. The European Union is still too often seen as technocratic, while it is essential for peace, prosperity, and cross-border problem-solving. A humane Netherlands requires a humane Europe.

But this essay is more than diagnosis. It is an invitation to act—guided by the values that connect us: humanity, justice, freedom, equality, solidarity, and the rule of law.

In 2025 the Council of Europe warned of erosion of the rule of law in several member states. The Netherlands is relatively well-positioned, yet faces rising polarization and declining trust. That is why now is the time to choose: polarization and fear—or a society led by humanity and justice? Politics driven by slogans—or policy grounded in the rule of law and the common good?

Our choice will determine whether the Netherlands remains a country where everyone can feel at home. This demands political courage, social engagement, and individual responsibility.

Imagine a Netherlands where…
…no one must choose between an affordable home and a healthy life.
…care is not a cost item but an expression of solidarity.
…the diversity of people is seen not as a threat but as a source of strength.
…Europe is not distant, but a community that tangibly contributes to peace and prosperity.

Imagine a Netherlands where every child grows up in a safe neighborhood; where older people age with dignity; where differences do not divide but enrich; where the economy is not about profit alone but about wellbeing and sustainability. A country where the young woman on the bike not only feels free but knows society stands behind her. That image is not utopia but a signpost—showing what is possible when we let humanity and justice lead.

That Netherlands is possible—if we choose it together.

A humane Netherlands requires joint effort. That means each level must take responsibility:

• Politics: stop sowing mistrust and divide-and-rule rhetoric. Invest in solutions that truly touch people’s lives: affordable housing, accessible care, a sustainable economy. Ground policy not in fear but in facts and values. Take citizens seriously; engage in open dialogue. Their views matter.

• Media: choose nuance and depth over polarization. Tell the stories of the nurse keeping care afloat, the teacher guiding youth, the newcomer finding a place in our society. News can feed division, but it can also build connection.

• Citizens: do not leave democracy to politicians alone. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Vote, talk, organize—small and large. Humanity begins not in The Hague or Brussels but in how we meet each other on the street, in the neighborhood, at work.

Humanity shows in small gestures: a neighborhood cleaning a playground together; a volunteer shopping for an elderly neighbor; a school welcoming refugee children. Such acts show that solidarity lives not only in laws or institutions, but in our daily conduct.

The girl on the bicycle can move freely only if we keep creating the conditions: safety, solidarity, justice, and trust. Let this essay be a moral compass—not a blueprint, but a signpost.

For a more just, more humane Netherlands.
For a Europe that safeguards peace and prosperity.
For a society in which we do not let go of one another.

It is up to all of us—politicians, media, and citizens—to make that choice.

As Martin Luther King said: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” But it does not bend by itself. It requires that we act—together—with empathy, honesty, and responsibility.