Holland has a new quiz show, Weg van Nederland (meaning both Love Holland and Leave Holland). One host, two glamorous assistants, a live studio audience and five contestants. It sounds pretty standard.
But here’s the twist – all of the contestants are people seeking asylum who, after arriving in Holland as children and living there for a number of years, have had their claims rejected and must now return to their country of origin. They must answer questions about Dutch culture and whoever has the most knowledge is provided with €4000 (£3,520) to help them start their new life.
Disbelief and outrage
On hearing about this game show, my initial reaction was one of disbelief and outrage; the plight of people seeking asylum should not be turned into cheap, jovial entertainment for the masses.
However, on further reflection, perhaps this commercial show is an excellent tool for making asylum issues mainstream. Under Holland’s right-wing government, Dutch immigration policy has become extremely stringent.
The show’s aim is not to mock the position of its contestants but to raise awareness that highly educated, highly-integrated individuals are being forced to leave the country they consider to be their home and return to a country that poses grave danger to them.
A direct challenge to immigration policy?
The show exists as a direct challenge to harsh immigration policies and raises awareness of these policies in the public consciousness.
There is something about the show that still hits a nerve with me, perhaps it is concern that people in a vulnerable position could be exploited for entertainment or perhaps it is concern that the issue of asylum is not treated in enough depth to educate viewers in this one-off episode.
However, profiling the experiences of these five people who’ve sought safety in the Netherlands to a mass audience, in a country with ever-tightening immigration policy is surely a good thing, isn’t it?
