Under the traditional system of zuilen, or pillars, the Netherlands had long been divided along religious lines, with denominations given government funding to support schools and other institutions tailored to their beliefs. When it became clear that the guest workers were sticking around, the authorities naturally hoped that a similar system might work for the new minority groups. Islamic schools were awarded state funding, government subsidies provided to mosques, and travel costs paid so that imams could immigrate to the Netherlands.
