Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

My main goal from coming to Netherlands is to feel part of this free country, to feel it’s my first home. Such decision making me feel the Netherlands is not welcoming that and on the contrary it discourages me to go towards integration.
Extending the naturalization period from 5 to 10 years is not an effective way to strengthen integration or create a “stronger bond” with the Kingdom. In fact, such a measure risks having the opposite effect.
First, integration is not primarily a function of time but of opportunity and inclusion. People become part of society through active participation—work, education, community involvement—not by passively waiting for more years to pass. By delaying citizenship, the state is actually limiting people’s ability to fully integrate, since many rights and opportunities (such as political participation or access to certain jobs) are tied to citizenship.
Second, doubling the naturalization period sends a signal of mistrust. It frames newcomers as outsiders who must prove themselves over an excessively long trial period. This risks fostering alienation rather than belonging. Instead of motivating integration, it may create resentment and a sense of second-class status for nearly a decade.
Third, citizenship should be a tool for integration, not the final reward after a prolonged probation. The earlier people are recognized as full members of society, the more invested they become in contributing to it. Research in multiple countries shows that earlier access to citizenship correlates with better social and economic integration outcomes.
Finally, this policy risks making the Netherlands less attractive for skilled migrants and long-term residents, at a time when demographic and labor market challenges require openness rather than restriction.
In short, extending the naturalization period to 10 years undermines the very goals it claims to promote: rather than creating stronger bonds, it risks weakening integration, prolonging exclusion, and discouraging commitment to Dutch society.