 | |
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 150,000-200,000 (1.0%) of total population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Amsterdam,The Hague,Amstelveen,Eindhoven,Utrecht,Rotterdam | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism Majority Sanātanī Minority Arya Samaj and Others | |
| Languages | |
| Sacred Sanskrit Majority Sarnami,Dutch Minority Other languages spoken bythe Hindu diaspora |
Hinduism is the third largest religious group in theNetherlands, afterChristianity andIslam; representing about 1.0% of the Dutch population in 2019.[1] Afterthe United Kingdom's andItaly's, the Netherlands' is the third largest Hindu community in Europe. There are between 200,000 – 240,000 Hindus currently living in the Netherlands, the vast majority of whom migrated fromSuriname – a former Dutch colony in South America.[2][3] There are also sizable populations of Hindu immigrants fromSouth Asia andCaribbean countries as well as a smaller number of Western adherents ofHinduism-oriented new religious movements.[4]
The presence of a significant number of Hindus in the Netherlands is a relatively modern development; in 1960, it is estimated there were only ten Indian families in the country,[5] who between them presumably comprised the bulk of the Hindu population. In 1971, theCentraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) recorded around 3,000 adherents.[6] In the 1970s, however, the number sharply increased. This was due to the immigration of theIndo-Surinamese ("Hindustanis"), people of Indian origin whose families had emigrated toSuriname asindentured workers in the late nineteenth century. With Surinamese independence in 1975, growing concern about their future in the new country caused about a third of the Hindustani population to leave Suriname and emigrate to the Netherlands.[5] The Indo-Surinamese were predominantly Hindu, and as a result the Hindu population increased tenfold over the decade to 34,000 in 1980, continuing to climb to 61,000 in 1990 and 91,000 in 2000.[6]
Currently, 80% of all Dutch Hindus are of Surinamese origin with most of these Surinamese Hindus having their roots from theBhojpuri-speaking regions of India as a result of theIndian indenture system.[7]
More recent arrivals have been fromSri Lanka as a result of thecivil war.[8]
The changes in Hindu population from 2010-19.[9][1]
| Year | Percent | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.6% | - |
| 2011 | 0.6% | - |
| 2012 | 0.6% | - |
| 2013 | 0.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | - |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +0.4% |
The largest group of Hindus in the Netherlands is composed of immigrants, mainly fromSuriname but with numbers also directly fromIndia andSri Lanka.[10] The estimated number of Hindus can vary dramatically depending on which source is used, ranging from 100,000 to comfortably over 200,000.[11] A 1997 study suggested that there were around 100,000 adherents.[10] A 2006 estimate by the CBS concurred with this number, breaking it down as 83,000 of Surinamese origin, 11,000 of Indian origin, 5,000 other non-Europeans, and 1,000 Europeans.[12] However, the Hindu Council of the Netherlands estimated around 215,000, of which 160,000 were from Surinam, 15,000 from the Indian subcontinent, and 40,000 from elsewhere.[13] This figure tallies very closely with those put out by the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora, who stated that the Netherlands had 200,000people of Indian origin, and 15,000Non-Resident Indians;[14] it is not clear if the two figures have a common source or if they are simply conflating people of ethnic Indian background with practising Hindus.
A 2003 study gave the totalIndo-Surinamese population - Surinamese originally of Indian descent - as 160,000, of which 80%, or around 130,000, were Hindu.[13] The largest regional populations, according to the 2003 study, were inSouth Holland (60,000), mostly clustered aroundThe Hague, andNorth Holland (31,200); between them, the two provinces accounted for over 70% of the overall population.[13] The same study suggested that there were around fiftytemples and around 250 priests, of whom half were full-time workers.[15]
The percentage of Hindus by provinces in Netherland:[16]
| Region | Percent of Hindus |
|---|---|
| Groningen | 0.3% |
| Friesland | 0.1% |
| Drenthe | 0.0% |
| Overijssel | 0.3% |
| Flevoland | 0.7% |
| Gelderland | 0.1% |
| Utrecht | 0.5% |
| North Holland | 0.6% |
| South Holland | 1.8% |
| Zeeland | 0.2% |
| North Brabant | 0.3% |
| Limburg | 0.1% |
The bulk of this population, around 80%, belong to theSanatana dharma, whilst the remaining 20% belong to the sectarianArya Samaj movement.[12] There are other groups belonging to the more recent "guru movements", such as theHare Krishnas or theTranscendental Meditation movement, and finally a small number who practice a mixture of more "new age" ortheosophical beliefs which include elements linked to Hinduism.[12]
Hinduism is practised by 5.2% of the population ofSint Maarten.[17] Hindus are represented by the St. Maarten Hindu Organization, which holds regular satsangs (prayers) in the Sun Building every first and third Sunday of every month.
Hinduism is the second largest religion inCuraçao, although it is only practised by 2% of the total population. There is a large Hindu temple inWillemstad, capital of Curaçao.
The Hindu Council of the Netherlands represents Hinduism in the Netherlands. The council governs Hindu temples, spiritual care, education and employs influential community leaders among its ranks. The organization was known for being heavily targeted, causing Hindus in the Netherlands to be underrepresented in several areas such as politics, sports and media.[citation needed]
There are five Hindu schools funded by the Hindu community in the country, which are deemed as national schools. The schools follow the same curriculum as other schools. The curriculum also includesHindi, teaching of the Hindu epics such asRamayana andMahabharata, and celebrating Hindu festivals.[citation needed]
