Until now, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Dutch academia and researchers have classified migrants in the Netherlands into two categories: as having a 'western' or 'non-western' background. The classification of people into these two categories creates a social reality wherein 'western' individuals and society are seen as the norm, with 'non-western' individuals seen as 'other'; an exception from the norm. It is also argued that this approach stigmatises migrants and reinforces colonial and racist thinking, attaching skin colour to classification. Migrant organisations and individuals have lobbied against it for years.

Now, in 2022, CBS is to adopt a different approach when publishing data on people with a migration background:

• Greater emphasis will be placed on where a person was born and less on where their parents were born. The term ‘migration background’ will no longer be used for this: CBS will refer to (international) migrants and their (Netherlands-born) children.
• The two main categories of 'western' and 'non-western' will be replaced with categories based on continents, and a few countries that share a specific migration history with the Netherlands.

Further information in English on the new classifications and their use so far can be found in this article.