In the city of Rotterdam a Dutch developer has launched a plan to build an Islamic hospital:

The hospital will adhere to Islamic traditions and customs. Food will be halal, there will be separate wards for men and women ands female patients will only be treated by female doctors and male patients by male doctors.

Now it should be noted that the system of Dutch pillarization – explained here – in theory allows for this sort of institution to be established, were it not for the fact that modernization and secularization have essentially ‘depillarized’ the nation. While there used to be numerous Catholic, Protestant and Jewish care facilities, few if any of them are still around. It is not an overstatement to argue that only one socio-religious pillar is still standing; in fact it is relatively new and rapidly growing. The contemplated hospital in Rotterdam is a very clear example of that trend.

The vocal reaction from opponents - one Rotterdam city councilor warns against a return to the Middle Ages - are therefore understandable. At a point in time when real effort is being made from left to right to get Muslims to modernize and to integrate into western society, self-imposed separation in an impenetrable pillar that comprises schools, clubs and now hospitals can only be the portent of an increasingly and deeply divided society. As it happens, the word for that dreadful phenomenon was coined in Dutch.

UPDATE: The nurses' uniforms have already been ordered ...