Chinese Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the Netherlands from the 1970s tot the Present

This thesis focuses on Dutch Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs who have a long history in Dutch society, but still lack attention. Aiming to explore the uniqueness of Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs, the thesis considers the changing characteristics and social context of Chinese immigrants in the Netherlands (especially Rotterdam and Amsterdam) from a historical perspective. It fills a research gap in this field by examining the motivations of Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs over a 50-year historical span. The research methodology combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitatively, it provides an up-to-date description of Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs in the Netherlands from 1970 to the present, including their demographic characteristics in a comparative view. At the micro-individual level, the thesis interviewed 10 Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs who provide first-hand accounts of their entrepreneurial experiences and motivations at different times. Using the mixed embeddedness approach as the main theoretical framework, this thesis considers the interaction of factors affecting immigrant entrepreneurship including networks of immigrants, social context, and opportunity structures of changing times. Using this framework, this thesis can provide a nuanced understanding of Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs in the Netherlands within their social and historical context. This thesis sheds light on the changing characteristics, sociocultural contexts, and motivations of Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs, enriching the understanding of immigrant entrepreneurial dynamics. In addition, it highlights the importance of historical, comparative, and theoretical frameworks when investigating immigrant entrepreneurship. It opens avenues for future research on the specific challenges faced by Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs and their long-term impact on the Chinese community and Dutch society.