Employment in the catering industry - waiters, helpers, cooks (problem with hair) etc. seems to be getting quite popular. In Italy farming and dairying provides attractive job opportunities. Most immigrants, however, work in factories and in construction industry. All across Europe one comes across Punjabi retailers, hawkers and paddlers. Many especially of younger generation are taking up professional jobs. To be able to get residence permit, many immigrants seek to marry the locals, either as long-term partners or just on contract basis - so to say. Following the general pattern of migration to Europe, Sikhs started to migrate to The Netherlands in 1960s. The migration picked up somewhat in 1970s and took a quantum jump in 1980s and 1990s. The followers of Yogi Bhajan' were the first to bring the SGGS to Amsterdam and start a Gurdwara as part of Guru Ramdas Ashram. They had also set up an Indian restaurant called the Golden Temple. The appointment of the former Maharaja Yadvindra Singh of Patiala as the Indian Ambassador (1971-74) helped provide Sikhs' exposure to the Dutch Government and people. According to some Sikhs the author met, one of the early Sikh immigrants was Beant Singh who came from Iran in late 1950s or early 1960s. In Netherlands, Sikhs form a significant portion of Indian immigrant population and are spread all over the country. One estimate reckons Sikh population to be between 10,000-12,000 nos in a total Indian population of around 20,000-24,000. They are successfully settled in various professions in The Netherlands. There are six Gurdwaras, two each in Amsterdam and The Hague, one in Rotterdam and another in Almere. The first regular Gurdwaras both in Amsterdam and Rotterdam were set up in 1981. Because of the International Court of Justice being located in The Hague, there had been several political demonstrations by the Sikhs not only from Netherlands but from entire Europe protesting against various injustices meted out to them in India at the hands of the Government. The Sikh connection with Surinamese Hindustanis is an interesting affair. With the independence of Surinam in 1975, many 'Hindustanis', whose ancestors had migrated there as indentured labour (beginning late 19th century) opted to settle in Netherlands. When Punjabis especially the illegals began migrating, they started marrying the Surinamese girls which enabled them to get 'Residence' status. Some of the marriages were genuine. Surinamese girls were keen to re-establish their long-lost Indian connection - what better option than marrying the Sikhs! Many marriages, however, were merely of convenience as far as the Punjabis were concerned. Once an immigrant got the residency status, he filed for divorce and thereafter went back to Punjab to get a bride. It resulted in some disenchantment amongst the Surinamese community. There were however some successful marriages. Some children belonging to the second generation from both successful and not-so-successful marriages are following Sikhi. An interesting case study was that of a turbaned Sikh in The Hague who married a Surinamese but later divorced her after having a daughter. Thereafter he remarried in Punjab and has since children from the second wife. He has, however, kept harmonious relations with divorced Surinamese wife and even arranged the marriage of the daughter from earlier marriage in Punjab village to a Sikh taking care of all the expenses and formalities. The author met the divorced Surinamese wife who had interestingly come to take her stepson with a 'joora' for a day's outing. Another episode relating to Sikhs in Netherlands was the voyage in 1987 of a small freighter, The Amelle from Rotterdam to Halifax in Canada carrying 173 passengers including one woman. This was a repeat of sorts of the famous failed voyage of 'Komagata Maru' carrying Sikhs from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada in 1914. Despite the initial problems faced by these immigrants on arrival in a small fishing village of Northeast Canada, the venture can be considered a success as all the passengers were ultimately granted immigration status.