Portraying Islamic education in the Netherlands : reconstruction of muslim identity in multicultural society

The eagerness of Muslim immigrants in the Netherlands to have education based on their culture and religion can be understood as an effort to protect their culture and identity as Muslims. Their effort to establish Islamic school in this country, even though guaranteed by the State’s Constitution, on practical level however, is very often difficult to materialize. Reaction from outside Muslim community in Dutch society is often negative toward Islamic education. The opposing opinions are critical and consider the Islamic education in the Netherlands is undesirable as it can slow the process of integration into Dutch society. This paper explores Islamic education in the Netherlands from historical perspective, analysis factors that lead to its realization by Muslim immigrants in this country, and discusses the role that the Islamic education play in the Dutch society