The Visibility of Mosques in Dutch Towns

Abstract

Since the 1990s, a growing number of Muslim organisations in the Netherlands apply for planning permission to build a new mosque, in most cases to replace the makeshift mosque which they currently use. These projects are gradually enhancing public visibility of Islam in Dutch towns. The applications have often led to opposition from individuals or committees in the area where the mosque is to be built. They may be motivated by anti-Islamic sentiments, but also by fear that the peace of the area will be lost. Local authorities play a crucial role, either as one of the parties in a conflict, or as an institution, which may prevent such conflicts from escalating. In this article we compare the recent mosque projects in two small towns (Deventer and Driebergen), which led to long legal battles, with those in the city of Utrecht where apparently the mosque projects became part of local town-planning and did not provoke strong opposition.