About Stichting Nederlanders Buiten Nederland
MISSION & HISTORY
Stichting Nederlanders Buiten Nederland (SNBN) was founded in 2019 and aims to represent the interests of Dutch people outside the Netherlands as well and effectively as possible.
As a board, we consist entirely of volunteers. We live all over the world and somehow run into (Dutch) obstacles abroad. This is, for example, in the field of nationality, pension, Dutch education, passports and participation in elections.
We want to work together to improve that. We see good contact with politics as the best way to represent the interests of Dutch people abroad. For politicians we are a source of information and a point of contact, for Dutch people outside the Netherlands we are the bridge to participation and change in politics in The Hague.
The SNBN Board
Below you can read who is on the board. You will not see elected politicians here, but you will see a large majority of board members who are explicitly members of a political party and believe in the path of politics to bring about positive changes for Dutch people outside the Netherlands.
The SNBN is therefore actively looking for cooperation and the link with The Hague. Want to know more? Read the answers to the most frequently asked questions about SNBN below.
You can download the following documents about the foundation. Our RSIN number is 859890855.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the SNBN necessary and what makes the SNBN so unique?
The SNBN is the result of a long-standing struggle for the interests of Dutch people living abroad. The experience of recent years has taught us that governments can suddenly adopt positions that are completely at odds with what the government has said before. The existence of an interest group that acts partly as a watchdog, partly as a consultative partner, partly as a lobbyist towards the government, is therefore necessary.
The uniqueness of the SNBN is the composition of the board and the way it operates. The board of the SNBN consists of eleven unpaid people, supported by several volunteers. Eight of the twelve board members are members of a political party, namely VVD, CDA, D66, GroenLinks, SP, PvdA, ChristenUnie and the Party for the Animals.
The SNBN itself is completely politically neutral, but this construction gives it quick access to the right political channels that are necessary for effective advocacy. In the meantime, all board members who are members of a political party have been introduced to the House of Representatives fraction of 'their' party. However, political parties have no control over the foundation.
Why do you want to influence Dutch laws if you live abroad yourself?
The Dutch legislator continues to make laws that also apply directly or indirectly to Dutch citizens living outside the Netherlands – a good example is the law on opening up dual nationality to Dutch citizens in the UK, in the event of a 'hard Brexit'.
In view of this impact, we take the position that we must be alert to both existing and future laws, and use our influence when it is in the interest of Dutch citizens living abroad. The same reasoning applies to voting from abroad: it must be (better) facilitated, so that people from abroad can really vote on laws that also affect us abroad.
Why a foundation and not an association? You cannot become a member of a foundation.
It is a general social fact that 'we' are no longer so quick to join an association in this day and age. This is not to say that involvement no longer exists – only in other ways, such as volunteering, signing petitions and donations. A foundation fits better with that.
Why is the board so large and why are some parties not represented on the board?
The articles of association do not provide for a maximum number of board members, but they do provide for a minimum (3). In order to be as effective as possible, without lapsing into a Polish parliament, an attempt was made to get the best possible composition in the board based on the political landscape in The Hague. It goes without saying that this can change in the future.
Where do you get your funding from?
A foundation has no members, so no paying members either. Moreover, the organization consists entirely of volunteers: no one benefits personally financially from this. That is why we raise funds to finance activities, including from companies, the government and individuals.
Will you come by to give presentations and start conversations?
Without regular contact with the Dutch outside the Netherlands and the necessary input, the SNBN cannot carry out its work properly.
The board members will therefore develop activities in various ways to get in touch with Dutch people outside the Netherlands, for example by giving presentations where possible and organizing home dinners.
In addition, the SNBN already works with many volunteers and we have a system of regional representatives.
All these elements together will form the substantive 'back bone' of the SNBN.