Patterns of European Intermarriages: Trends and Meaning in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands

Clara Cortina, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Helga A. G. de Valk, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Leo van Wissen, University of Groningen

Previous studies on intermarriage in Europe have focused mainly on marriages between migrants from non-western origin and partners from the EU settlement country. This paper examines intermarriage among EU migrants and the native population in three countries of settlement: Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is relevant to know who marries whom and what patterns of intermarriage among EU citizens are observed since European migrants comprise the largest group of migrants in each of the three settlement countries. Taking an international comparative approach can highlight how and to what extent the same patterns and factors are found to be relevant in different EU countries. This study can advance our understanding of the trends in EU intermarriages, their changes over time and factors involved. This study draws from data including the total population in each of the three countries by combining vital statistics, census and register data over the 1990-2009 period.