Maltese in the Benelux

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate the situation of the Maltese who have lived and are living in the Low Countries, recently known as the Benelux. Malta’s entry into the European Union has brought to my attention the ever increasing Maltese presence in Europe. The author chose the Benelux because unlike Malta, which lies in Southern Europe, the region lies in northwest Europe, and therefore the lives of the Maltese in the Benelux, the author assumes, would have developed differently to those of Maltese people living in their homeland. Moreover, it was also intriguing to research the lives of Maltese living in three neighbouring countries with different motives during the years. In this way I hope to highlight the problems the Maltese communities in the Benelux have faced throughout the years. To find information and sources with regards to the Maltese in the Benelux, the author reviewed several primary historical and contemporary sources, throughout Malta, Belgium and the Netherlands. The sources were mainly several documents, passports, journals, and newspaper articles. Moreover, in order to analyse recent topics, the research included a series of questionnaires with Maltese nationals residing in the Benelux so that the validity of this study would be concluded with current details. The dissertation will show the variety of reasons why Maltese have chosen to work in the Benelux. Reasons which were unknown, or else forgotten through time as in many of the historical cases. As a result one can see the evolution of purposes for migrating to the Benelux. For example Maltese who went to Belgium, when Malta was a British colony, went there as part of a military force or out of despair hoping for a better future. On the other hand, contemporary Malta emigrants to Belgium go there in search of employment. The study was conducted using a historical approach which has served to support the idea that despite the Benelux region being geographically far from the Mediterranean, a Maltese presence there was still found in the first part of the seventeenth century, and while no documentation has been discovered by the author to establish whether this presence was there even earlier, there is a possibility of a Maltese presence in the Benelux before the seventeenth century. The data uncovered sheds light on several conclusions about the study. Firstly, one must emphasize the political and economic opportunities the Benelux plays for several Maltese who work in the Benelux countries. Secondly, the study brings out the role of embassies and dialogue in enhancing the lives of present emigrants in the Benelux and the possibility of encouraging further emigration through several mediums such as community organisations, trade, and sports. Lastly, the social lives of Maltese will be examined not only in the light of how they fit into statistics and figures, but also in analysing different scopes and reasons for them living there. In fact statistics in graphs show the importance of the Benelux for Maltese who would like to reside there. This dissertation will follow a chronological pattern, featuring all newly discovered events.