Overlooking the Prisengracht in Amsterdam is a modern looking building with a very long line curving around its side and into a door. It's the Anne Frank achterhuis, the house where she evaded the Nazis and composed her diary. About six doors down and around a corner is a small door, set a little bit lower than the street, with a neon sign which features a palm tree and reads "Coffeehouse." Inside, men and women are smoking spliffs-cigarettes from tobacco and marijuana-and reading the newspaper. Elementary-school students bicycle down the street while grandmothers tote their groceries to the nearest street-car stop. This is the typical scene on any given corner in Amsterdam; an absurd mix of history, culture, drugs and happiness makes it a popular tourist destination. I went for a week last January, and among my companions this mantra was spoken every hour or so: "We have to move here."
The natives, it seems, do not agree. More Dutch are itching to get out of the country than ever before. How could that be? How could anyone seek to leave such a liberal, accepting and stable country? The answer given is that too many people are coming in.

Recent expatriates cite the sudden influx of immigrants as their primary reason for leaving their homes. Many say they have been inspired to leave by the murder of the filmmaker Theo van Gogh, whose throat was slit by a Muslim fundamentalist because of his outspoken, anti-fundamentalist stance. Others simply claim that space is the problem. As The New York Times reported, the Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe: "16.3 million people live in an area roughly the size of Maryland."

The government, once relaxed and liberal as can be, has become anxious and unsure of how to proceed. True to their progressive roots, they don't want to stop people from coming into the country, but they also don't want their citizens leaving in waves. They are seeking a balance for their people, in their ability to be welcoming and still provide enough space to live; to protect their citizens and welcome their immigrants; to blend the deeply-rooted Dutch society with the international cultures entering their land daily.

But should they?

The fact that a large percentage of these new Dutch immigrants are Arab has become a very touchy subject for the Dutch government, its people, and the international community. To say that foreigners-specifically Arabs-are bad for the Netherlands is not only misguided, but also extremely inflammatory. The desire to emphasize that all Arabs are not terrorists is both noble and justifiable. But to say that they are easily assimilated into Dutch culture and tradition is wrong. The two groups come from different backgrounds. Their fundamental belief systems are built on different religions, laws and histories. Just as an American would feel very out of place in China, an Arab probably feels quite uncomfortable upon moving to the Netherlands.

This discomfort can manifest in any number of ways, and the incidents of rising violence and vandalism reported by Dutch citizens is an example of such.

And then there is the fact that Holland is so tiny. Immigrants coming to America are given access to a vast land in which they can make their mark. But in the Netherlands, the houses are tiny and often house multiple apartments. Stairways are narrow, tables are small, foot room is all but impossible to find. The addition of hundreds of immigrants, coming in constant waves, is an enormous strain on the country simply because it has nowhere to put them. No wonder tensions are rising.

In the end, the Dutch are faced with a real dilemma. They could consider the complaints of their current permanent residents and put serious restraints on immigration, but that runs counter to the progressive and welcoming policies of the government. If limits are not placed on immigration, the Dutch will have to address seriously the concerns and complaints being voiced by their residents or face even larger waves of emigration. But whichever avenue they choose to pursue, they must be sure to protect the happiness of their population and the stability of their country. The Netherlands is an admirable nation that serves its people well while maintaining enviable political and economic stability. This is not so great an obstacle that it should ruin its reputation. After all, I have plans to move there, too.