1 in 6 Flemings has foreign roots

This is one in 6 for the population as a whole. For the first time second-generation immigrants are included in the migrant tally.

Second-generation migrants were born here and are Belgian citizens, but have parents that came from abroad. Previously, they had not been included in the figures. Speaking on VRT radio’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De Ochtend’, the Flemish Minister responsible for integration Geert Bourgeois (nationalist, bottom photo) said that "It’s important to know the figures for second-generation migrants, as they fall behind when it comes to poverty, educational achievement, employment and housing."

"The percentage of those with foreign roots living in poverty is 3.8 times higher than it is for the population as a whole. Employment levels are just 44% of those for the whole population. The levels of educational attainment and training are also low. What is dramatic is that this is also happening among the second generation. A lot of school drop-outs, people that haven’t passed any exams", Mr Bourgeois explained.

The Minister added that the number of Flemings with foreign roots will continue to rise, as the percentage of infants with foreign roots is considerably higher than the percentage of people with foreign roots as a proportion of the population as a whole.

The percentage of households in which Dutch is spoken within the family was also measured. In Ghent (East Flanders), Dutch is not used as a means of communication within a third of all households. In Antwerp this is 41%.

Genk in Limburg is the only town in Flanders in which people with foreign roots form the majority of the population (54%). Mr Bourgeois stresses the importance of good Dutch-language skills a means of emancipation.

[Flandersnews.be / Expatica]