Belonging is a universal need

We live in an increasingly diverse and interconnected society, shaped by movement, multiple identities, and constant change. Yet many people, whether they have a migration background or not, struggle to fully feel at home, connected and seen within this changing social landscape.

Belonging is a universal human need, and an essential foundation for individual well-being and cohesive communities.

A rapidly diversifying Netherlands

The Netherlands is home to an increasingly diverse population. ِAround 28% of the current population is either born abroad or the child of migrants. In the major cities, that proportion is much higher. This diversity will continue to increase in the coming decades: by 2050, it is expected to reach 40%.

The question is therefore no longer whether we live together in a diverse society, but how.

As the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) puts it, policy aimed at socioeconomic participation isn’t enough on its own, it also needs to include groups and make clear that they are part of Dutch society. In other words: access to work and language matters, but it doesn’t automatically create a true sense of belonging.

Why Rooted exists

Rooted was founded in 2023 to support and inspire people and societies to live a rooted life.

For many people, growing political polarization, perceived differences and experiences of exclusion have created doubt about where they truly belong. Some experience this through migration, displacement or living between cultures. Others experience it through changes in their neighborhood, or simply not knowing how to relate to an increasingly diverse world.

Rooted exists to strengthen that sense of belonging, for everyone navigating questions of identity, connection and participation in a society where difference is part of everyday life.

Our approach

Our methodology is grounded in research and lived experience. It helps people build rootedness across eight dimensions, shifting the focus from tolerance and assimilation toward pluralism and authentic citizenship.

By creating space for reflection, dialogue and community, we empower people to embrace layered identities, relate across differences, and take up space in society with confidence and openness.

What we’re working toward

Rooted contributes to a society in which everyone can wholly belong. Because when people feel rooted, communities become stronger, more inclusive and more cohesive.

“I am home. Where I am, that is home. I grow roots there and feed off all that is beautiful and shield myself from that which does not give me energy. If home is no longer safe, I pack my suitcase again and take the memories with me to the new. I never leave home because it is rooted, it resides within me. “

Leila Prnjavorac, public speaker and presenter, ambassador of Rooted, roots in The Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Methodology

Mainstream inclusion and integration policies often reduce belonging to learning the language, entering the workforce and ‘overcoming’ cultural differences. Rooted offers a different path – one that centers human experience, not performance. We believe that true inclusion starts from within, and is only sustainable when people are seen, valued, and empowered to be their full selves. We propose a different narrative and choose to use rooting instead of integrating.

Integration is often approached or conceived as a one-sided process where the host society is not expected to change or accommodate cultural diversity. The implication for immigrants is that their acceptance depends on aligning with the dominant, mainstream culture, by denying parts of themselves, which has severe consequences on mental health, wellbeing, agency, capacity to participate, and thus, eventually on our collective ability to build a cohesive society.

Hannah Coutts, Rooted researcher, roots in France and Australia

Our approach embraces plural identities, promotes self-acceptance, and encourages active participation in society — not by asking people to fit in, but by helping them root deeply and confidently in who they are.

The Rooted approach takes a more holistic perspective, emphasizing authenticity and autonomy. Rooted recognizes the constant negotiation between cultures, the dance between adaptation and authenticity, as something to be embraced rather than resolved, rejecting the idea that belonging requires choosing one identity over another.

Samar Nafie, Chair of the Rooted Board of Director, roots in the Netherlands, Egypt and Morocco

Rooting in eight dimensions

At the core of our methodology is the idea that belonging is multi-dimensional. Rooted helps participants strengthen their connection to self and society across eight essential dimensions:

• Physical – feeling at home in one’s own body
• Emotional – connecting with and expressing one’s true feelings
• Mental – making choices based on one’s values
• Social – building meaningful, reciprocal relationships with others
• Spiritual – grounding in faith, meaning, or a sense of being part of something greater
• Intergenerational – honoring one’s heritage and shaping a legacy
• Spatial – feeling connected to one’s environment and physical surroundings (this includes language and work environment)
• Temporal – living consciously in the present while integrating past and future

The Rooted methodology is based on academic literature and practical experience. We have also drawn knowledge from many fictional and non-fictional books. We happily share with you our Rooted library, a resource for inspiration to strengthen your sense of belonging.

Rootedness begins within – but doesn’t end there

Rooted works on three interconnected levels:

• Individual: we support people to reconnect with their layered identity and voice. Everyone is empowered to belong.
• Community: we build communities with strong ties based on mutual respect and recognition. Communities rooted in care, not conformity.
• Society: we foster visibility, civic engagement, and inclusive public narratives for deeper social cohesion.

Our growing community includes speakers, facilitators, and change makers who are reimagining what living together can look like – not as assimilation, but as shared belonging. Rooted strengthens society from the inside out.

Join us and help build a society where everyone is invited to root, grow, and thrive.