Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

It’s midnight at 3:20, and I’m sitting on the floor of our new home. Yesterday, my wife and I received the key to the house we bought. The rooms are empty, and instead of celebrating, we feel anxious.

My wife has lived in the Netherlands for two years as a highly skilled immigrant. We’ve both worked hard, really hard, and truly enjoyed it. We’ve contributed to academia and industry, paid taxes, and built our lives around the 5-year path to citizenship.

We’ve invested deeply financially, professionally, and emotionally. We’ve spent a lot on Dutch courses and try to speak Dutch with everyone we meet. Even our daily habits have changed. I now eat bread and cheese for lunch, and I can clearly tell the differences between the cheeses :)

Changing the rule from 5 to 10 years is not just about time. It changes trust. We made life decisions based on the rules as they were. When they shift midway, it creates uncertainty and makes people question their place.

I should sleep now. There are walls to paint, and politicians to decide our future.