Politicians seem to agree with the Dutch interest groups and foundations.

The current Dutch nationality law and the possibility of automatic loss of a citizen’s nationality/citizenship is evidence of a nonchalant attitude towards the Dutch citizen. Automatic loss without considering if this is reasonable, proportional, acceptable or morally just, can not always be justified. We are not talking about terrorists or criminals, who in fact won’t lose their nationality automatically. No, we are talking about regular citizens who possibly went abroad to discover the world, moved for work or love, etc. Who did, irrespective of their new country, keep connections and a bond with the Netherlands, family and friends there. Perhaps they even thought to one day return. Or new Dutchies who understandably still have interests abroad. Or children of a Dutch and foreign national who literally have a father- and motherland. Also these don’t really want to chose in a nationality-divorce. And certainly they wouldn’t want to have the choice made for them through an unknown, unwanted and automatic article in law.

When we explain to non-Dutch politicians, lawyers and officials the stories of former Dutch nationals, when they learn of the Dutch nationality law principles from the 19th century, they often scratch their heads and ask, “but I though the Netherlands was a very modern and liberal country?” Even within the Netherlands there are lawyers, officials and politicians who are often surprised when they hear how the law works in practise. While most countries have modernised their nationality laws the Netherlands is left behind in the increasingly liberal and globalising world. In the Netherlands we do often hear some politicians say that they understand the challenge. That they even agree, or that they will look into it. Actions speak louder than words, we may think. As we wrote before, the current proposed law change is limited. Too limited to be fair to other former Dutch nationals. And recently we see that politicians are in fact asking the government the right questions and this way showing us that they do agree with us. Automatic loss is not proportionate and the proposed and, in our opinion reasonable, proportionality test for only those who made use of their EU Freedom of Movement rights is not fair to all those who did not have such an EU link/connection. That this is now being considered and questioned by politicians is really great. It is still early, very early, days if we consider the process of making/changing law. But it gives us all some hope.

Here (in Dutch) the politicians their questions to the government, and we took the liberty to provide our own answers and questions. Including a suggested alternative and better solution. Although, we all know that allowing dual nationality would stop the need for these proposed proportionality tests and solutions. When even the officials get confused the law is already complex enough and doesn’t need more exceptions or bureaucratic processes. We say, just allow dual nationality, except for some real serious issues.