Freedom of Religion or Belief and Gender Equality in the Netherlands: Between Pillars, Polders, and Principles

The Dutch approach to calibrating freedom of religion or belief and gender equality is characterized by its outspokenness as far as external affairs are concerned and, historically, the absence of a similar degree of fortitude when it comes to its internal affairs. Recently, the two perspectives—internal affairs and external relations—have become more or less aligned. This process was significantly steered by judicial interventions and interventions by human rights monitoring bodies, which judicial recourse was mobilized in turn by civil society. The non-proactive attitude on the part of the state must be understood—yet not necessarily justified—on account of its unique political constellation in which pillars, polders and principles are driving, if conflicting, forces.