Dearborn’s uniquely diverse community could ignite welcome change across the pond.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans recently met with Muslim American leaders and area interfaith partners to find out how multiple faith groups coexist without violence or flight in America.

“Here’s a community of people who get together from different faiths,” Timmermanns told the crowd during breakfast at the Islamic Center of America.

Over time, Dearborn’s Arab and Muslim American population has mixed well with the city’s European American majority population. However, Timmermanns says, the Netherlands are “struggling with diversity, dealing with a new population – our Muslim population.”

Consequently, his Dearborn visit has the potential to serve as a springboard for future “cultural tolerance” for the Dutch and other Europeans. The Dutch minister also discussed shared values between Europe and America, including freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Timmermanns’ gesture to reach out to Muslim Americans and others is inspired by the Obama administration’s serious desire to reach out to the Muslim world after eight rocky years under President George W. Bush.

President Barack Obama “has extended his hand to us and we should join hands and cooperate on issues before us,” Timmermanns said. “To me, if you look at the world problems today, there is no way the U.S. can solve this on its own. There is no way that Europe can solve this on its own. The only way forward is that people with shared values get together and work out the plan. And it starts between the U.S. and Europe. This is my starting point.”

“This” is Dearborn, a hotbed for diversity. It’s a model for multiculturalism Europe can learn from.

“Look at this interfaith dialogue that’s going on,” Timmermanns said. “Look at the way they conduct this dialogue, it’s a very open thing. I could say anything here, and nobody was insulted by what I said. And I was very blunt and people took it in stride. It’s something we can learn from.”