The BBC World Service is holding a series of debates across the world in a time of real change.
BBC World Questions allows the public to question their politicians, leaders and opinion formers directly face to face. The debates are led entirely by questions from the audience who are able to have their say and be heard round the world.
On 5 April 2017, BBC World Questions came to Amsterdam in the aftermath of a fiercely fought election. Asylum seekers, immigration, crime and security and membership of the EU continue to divide Dutch society. The ruling party held back a surge of support for what they called the “wrong kind of populism” and a wave of small parties did well in the election, but immigration and assimilation are still matters of great debate. Jonny Dymond and a panel of leading politicians and thinkers debated questions raised by the audience at De Rode Hoed in the heart of the capital.
The panel included Han Ten Broeke, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs; Annabel Nanninga, journalist and commentator; Sylvana Simons, television presenter and founder of the political party Artikel 1 and Petra Stienen, author, arabist and Senator for D66.
The evening was opened by Amsterdam based singer-songwriter Marle Thomson.
Photos of the debate are available on our Facebook page.
BBC World Questions is an English-language event created in partnership with the British Council.
As a cultural relations and educational organisation and partner of the BBC World Service, the British Council, helps to enable a platform where the general public can join in on democratic debate on a global forum.
The programme was recorded at the Rode Hoed in Amsterdam on 5 April 2017. BBC World Questions: Amsterdam is available on the BBC World Service website.
BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 28 other language services, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.
