Race discrimination case over child’s swim puts ‘Dutch paradox’ in focus

Henri Duiker: ‘I am a Dutchman … but I’m still a foreigner for some people.’ Photograph: Judith Jockel/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Henri Duiker: ‘I am a Dutchman … but I’m still a foreigner for some people.’ Photograph: Judith Jockel/The Guardian Race discrimination case over child’s swim puts ‘Dutch paradox’ in focus Father of boy refused entry to pool says case is reminder that some Dutch do not acknowledge reality of racism W hen Henri Duiker went to check whether his 12-year-old son and his friend were enjoying their first “disco” swim evening alone, he was baffled. Instead of being in the water, Henri’s son was standing alone by the desk at the Watergeus pool, in Zoetermeer in the Netherlands . He did not have any ID to prove he was under 13 and pool attendants had told him he could not swim – although his friend of the same age and size had not been not asked for his documents. As Duiker’s partner watched for 10 minutes, only children of colour were asked to prove their age. “She saw that every white child was simply allowed to walk through, and every black child, without exception, was asked for their passport,” Duiker said, reflecting on that Friday evening in 2024. “And if they didn’t have it, they weren’t allowed in.” Last month he won a ruling from the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights: the company Optisport Zoetermeer, which runs the municipal pool, had used unlawful racial discrimination. The incident has sparked a reckoning in the city, with councillors from three parties asking formal questions about how this could have happened. It was not an isolated incident: last week the Dutch football association asked police to investigate online racist abuse towards World Cup players, and at an event commemorating the abolition of slavery, the Dutch prime minister, Rob Jetten, admitted discrimination and racism were “still systematically present and deeply rooted”. German swimming lake criticised for ban on non-German speakers Read more In Europe and North America, swimming pools have often become focal points for racial tension and exclusion. Last month a open-air swimming venue in Germany was ordered to lift a ban on bathers who do not speak German or face possible legal action. Duiker’s son was allowed in after he vouched for him, but Duiker said the incident was a reminder of an uncomfortable reality sometimes called the “Dutch paradox” : because of their own widespread rights and freedoms, some people do not acknowledge the existence of racism. “People act as though the Netherlands is so tolerant,” Duiker said, mildly. “Maybe it is … but it’s pretty awful to show children of 10, 11 and 12 that they are not equal. You are showing them that whatever you do, however you live, you are never the same as a white child.” Duiker complained to the pool management on the day of the incident. When it dismissed his formal complaint, he went to the national anti-discrimination helpline, Discriminatie.nl , which referred him to the Ne