Published 9 October 2026

Published today in English as well: Lost by Operation of Law, an Old Wound!, the English edition of Van Rechtswege Verloren, Een Oud Zeer! — 200 pages on the quietest loss in Dutch law. Dutch nationality that lapses with no letter, no decision, and no one noticing. The book is free to read and to download.

Why now

A debate in the Dutch parliament on nationality and its loss is expected in December. No date has been fixed, and whether it goes ahead is not certain at this point. That is precisely why this is the moment to understand the law as it actually operates, rather than as it is usually explained. Anyone who intends to follow it, speak to it, or write a letter is in a stronger position holding the facts.

Three parts, one question

Part I traces the line from poorterschap in 1531 to Dutch nationality in 2003, and shows that automatic loss is not an ancient tradition but a nineteenth-century choice. Part II takes the Act of 1892 as it still works through in 2026: the ten-year loss period, its interruption, and the people who learn only when applying for a passport that they stopped being Dutch years ago. Part III sets out a proposal for a Kingdom Act that belongs in this century.

Why this may matter to you

Loss often stays beyond repair because no one knew the clock was running. Understanding exactly what happened, and when, is therefore the first step: first towards restoration where that is still possible, and then towards a law that no longer lets people fall through no fault of their own.

Both editions can be downloaded from today: 200 pages in English, 208 in Dutch.

This post reflects the position on 9 October 2026. The law and the practice may have moved on since.