Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

Ik woon hier bijna drie jaar met mijn man en onze twee katten.
(Switching to English, but I started in Dutch to show that I am learning and can handle daily interactions!)

I didn’t move to the Netherlands to spend a few years abroad and return to the U.S. I moved here with the intention of staying, of becoming a Dutch citizen after five years, learning the language, passing the exams, and building a life here.

I first came as a Highly Skilled Migrant, but after being laid off during the tech downturn, I had to quickly rebuild. I set up a B.V. and began freelancing to support my family, which took resilience, adaptability, and persistence. Against the odds, my business has been very successful, and I've just landed another direct-hire role which begins next month and I'm proud to have gotten.

I know we’re living in a time of rising nationalism globally. Choosing to be an immigrant right now — even from a privileged country — is not easy. But I choose it anyway, because I love my life here, and I’m proud of what I’ve built in the Netherlands.

That’s why this proposed change — extending the citizenship timeline from five to ten years — is deeply discouraging. I don’t believe that keeping people in visa limbo longer helps them “integrate” better. On the contrary, it risks alienating exactly the kind of people who do integrate: those who work hard, learn the language, pay taxes, and contribute meaningfully to Dutch society.

At the very least, I hope the government will consider grandfathering in those who have already made their homes here under the current five-year path. Moving the goalposts mid-way would be deflating. Perhaps the goal is to make people give up and leave — but that would be a short-sighted choice for a country that has long “punched above its weight” economically because of its openness, innovation, and internationalism.