Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

My concerns
1. Uncertainty undermines trust
When we move here, wedo so with certain expectations—about how the rules work, what we must do. The current 5-year requirement is one of those expectations. To change it to 10 years after people like me have already been here feels like altering a promise. It leads to the feeling that nothing is stable, and that policies can shift under your feet. That makes planning life here hard: where to invest, whether to settle permanently, whether to commit to long-term projects or relationships here.
2. Mental and emotional cost
When policy changes midway, it affects people’s sense of belonging, their security, their wellbeing. If I’m working toward becoming Dutch, participating in society, integrating socially and linguistically, but then find I have to wait twice as long, that’s demoralizing. It breeds anxiety (“what if this changes again?”), discouragement, and can make someone feel undervalued.
3. The Netherlands needs people. Skilled workers, researchers, entrepreneurs, international professionals all contribute in many ways: paying taxes, creating jobs, raising children, bringing different perspectives. If naturalization becomes more difficult or delayed, fewer people may choose to settle here permanently and it harms the country.
4. Integration happens gradually, not by length alone
The idea that lengthening the required residence will increase “integration” is simplistic. True integration depends on opportunity: being allowed to work, participating in language, social life, culture, contributing to the community. Many people integrate well in 5 years already, sometimes earlier. Others may be here longer yet still not feel fully integrated—because of other barriers. Lengthening the time alone does not guarantee more engagement or loyalty; but it does guarantee more waiting, more uncertainty.