Opinion on news, with immigration and nationality being targeted.
The Netherlands, “A country to be proud of”.
Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they are still proud of the Netherlands. In any case, in my personal opinion, this 2024 coalition agreement has many signs of an incited torch-carrying blinded mob that is now going to change legislation and society. Something that might have been expected from the PVV, but a disappointment from the VVD, NSC and BBB. It appears once again that political power appears to be more important for parties than integrity and morality. Not really something new, but precisely why many people do not trust politics and politicians. Unfortunately, because many politicians genuinely mean well. A few in their own imagined madness. Personally, I have never really had a strong affinity with one party or another, despite the fact that I naturally have a preference when voting, but this shows why. Really sad times for the Netherlands. Perhaps an idea for a new electoral system is to abolish political parties themselves, ban political organization, and allow only independent candidates.
What does this practically mean?
Here we are as citizens and foreigners (inside and outside of the Netherlands). What does this coalition agreement say? First of all, a coalition agreement is a kind of wish list. It does not mean that everything stated will actually happen. But it does indicate what they want to achieve and what the parties have agreed on. There are no innocent parties/politicians in this agreement.
Former Dutch nationals – Repair of (unconsciously/unintentionally) lost Nationality
This 2024 coalition agreement does not mention the problems that many (including those born and raised) experienced, and still experience, when they automatically lose their Dutch nationality. The 2017 coalition agreement gave us hope for real modern legislation, the 2021 coalition agreement gave us reason to cheer, but unfortunately this seems to have been nothing more than an election stunt because the legislation did not materialize.
This new 2024 coalition agreement does not address the problems and (moral) injustices, but it does indicate that this government will probably do nothing or the bare minimum, or even make it worse. Unfortunately, we have to wait and see, but let’s not do this quietly. If you have been affected by the unwanted and unconscious loss of your Dutch nationality, please become vocal with the Nationale Ombudsman (already aware of the problem since 2016), the Stichting GOED (foundation), Nederlanders in den Vreemde and similar organisations. And let your political party not only know your opinion, but also make them feel it at the next election. Advice: Do not wait with using the 4 to 5 (often practically difficult) repair possibilities for former Dutch people.
Dual Nationality – Multiple Nationality
It is less clear here to what extent they would like to tighten current exceptions. Some of these exceptions originate from international treaties and are therefore not so easy to remove completely. However, knowing the government it can also be made bureaucratically difficult to do so through policy. Until we see proposals to change the law there is still a lot of uncertainty. In addition, a proposal does not mean that it will be approved or feasible. Because it was stated that “Foreigners who wish to adopt our nationality renounce, where possible, their other nationality.” I do not expect the legislation to really modernize in this regard. (See also “Naturalisation” below). Advice: Make use of the current exceptions in the legislation as quickly as possible, if possible. And keep an eye on future changes to the law (via us).
Immigrant
Unfortunately, you are regarded as an unwelcome alien. You take our (unwanted) jobs and the fact that you contribute more to the economy than the average Dutch national is ignored because you are slightly different, a bit of a weirdo, a “vreemdeling” for which we have had a Vreemdelingen-law since 1849. However, things were very different back then, foreigners were welcome and the law was liberal and placed little in the way of immigration. The current conditions for residence permits can be made a lot more difficult, this is expected. These types of legislative changes can be implemented fairly quickly. Advice: Apply for your (permanent) residence permit as soon as possible.
Naturalisation
If you want to become a Dutch citizen in the future, this is what you can expect:
—“The language requirement for naturalisation will in principle be increased to B1 for everyone.”
Expected. This had been on the political agenda for a number of years. We will wait for the law change and see when this really becomes active. Advice: prepare for B1 or pass the current integration exam or naturalisation test abroad as soon as possible.
—“The standard period for naturalization is extended to 10 years, regardless of specific or permanent resident permit.”
Not the first attempt, to be expected. Very unfortunate, but waiting longer for nationality is not that bad for some. Of course this also depends on the uncertainty of immigration legislation and your long-term residence status. Until naturalisation, a permanent residence permit is a reasonable alternative to nationality, provided you can obtain permanent residence status after 5 years. We also do not know whether there will remain a distinction and shorter period for those who are married (or registered partnership) to a Dutch national. The devil is in the details. What can be expected is that fewer Highly Skilled Migrants and people who invest a lot in the Netherlands will choose the Netherlands. Advice: Prepare your naturalisation application well and submit it as soon as possible.
—“Foreigners who wish to adopt our nationality shall, where possible, renounce their other nationality.”
This is already law and is already implemented for naturalisation. How much more difficult they can make it is the question. But it is clear that this coalition does not want to allow other nationalities. The Netherlands is therefore still one of the few developed/EU countries that prevents multiple nationalities. We can expect to see that the current 2016 proposal to change the law will be marked as not feasible by these parties. Let it thus be clear to you who you do not want to vote for in the future, if you also have, want to keep, or want to acquire another nationality.
It is less clear here to what extent one would like to tighten current exceptions. Some of the exceptions arise from international treaties and are therefore not that easy to remove completely. However, knowing the government, it can also be made bureaucratically very difficult. Until we see proposals to change the law there is still a lot of uncertainty. In addition, a proposal does not mean that it will be approved or feasible.
Advice: Make sure you meet one of the current unwritten and written exceptions. Obtain your other nationality as soon as possible. But there may be no need to rush it. Just before your foreign naturalisation, check that the Dutch law has not changed in the meantime.
—“An extra and mandatory commitment to integration and integration. The starting point is that you are one of us if you participate and endorse Dutch values.”
It is not yet known what this will entail, but I would suggest you buy wooden clogs, eat cheese, and at the butcher complain about everything, in Dutch that is.
–“Integration includes knowledge about the Holocaust and its victims.”
The irony! But hey that’s certainly a positive. Perhaps the PVV will as a result lose votes in the future.
Refugee
A major stumbling block for the parties is the small, but big in the news, group of refugees. There is no point in going into the actual numbers and issues and the refugee treaties that came into being due to and after the second world war. The government now has a clear opinion about this and will make it more difficult for refugees to flee (as a family) and find a safe and healthy asylum country. I only have one client at the moment who is affected by this (refugee and also a former Dutch national) and I will not go into further detail about this here. Advice: Apply for asylum/refugee status as soon as possible.
UN/EU membership and treaties
We still have to see what the government will come up with to evade responsibility without abandoning the (refugee) treaties. But be aware, because apparently the Netherlands will investigate whether it can withdraw from these UN and related EU treaties. The language implies departure from the EU and the UN. Unique because even isolated North Korea is a member of the UN. Leaving the EU may be in the cards. Brexit started with the same refugee hype before it became an EU hype. Let’s say, unlikely because it would have a major economic impact on the Netherlands, but possible. But they can play with the rules, and that is something that still needs to take shape. Advice: vote smartly
Opinion written by Kris von Habsburg.
Specialist Dutch Nationality Lawyer (jurist) and owner of Habsburg Legal Services ltd
Original government publication (opposite), in Dutch without yellow highlights:
https://www.kabinetsformatie2023.nl/documenten/publicaties/2024/05/16/hoofdlijnenakkoord-tussen-de-fracties-van-pvv-vvd-nsc-en-bbb