SNBN Newsletter June 28: Farewell and welcome, VFS survey and info on dual nationality
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Dear Dutch nationals abroad and interested parties!
Welcome to this (full) newsletter from the Foundation for Dutch People Abroad.
This time with the following topics:
Farewell and welcome
Posthumous: Bart Hilhorst
SNBN Chairman Eelco Keij speaks at the Dutch Centre, London, on July 9.
Survey on VFS global
Day of the Dutch Abroad (3 Sept, The Hague) and consideration of the dual nationality bill
Call for help: assistance needed with official translation of SNBN documents
Farewell & Welcome
There have been quite a few changes within the SNBN over the past few months. After serving on the board for over 5 years, Fieke Slager-van de Ven was recently succeeded by Tim Rozendaal . Over the past few years, Fieke has meant a great deal to the SNBN and to Dutch people living abroad, partly due to her political connections: particularly within the VVD, she has managed to foster widespread understanding and recognition regarding various ongoing issues, including dual nationality. It is now up to Tim (also a VVD member) to follow up on this, precisely now that the dual nationality bill is on the parliamentary agenda. Many thanks, Fieke, and best of luck, Tim!
Carina Olsthoorn is the other board member we had the pleasure of welcoming last month – as the liaison for all SNBN volunteers (and there are many!), she will dedicate herself from Pretoria to strengthening the organization as a whole. Carina's position is entirely new and not affiliated with a political party (most board members are members of a political party, all different, for strategic reasons). Welcome, Carina!
There is also a necessary changing of the guard taking place within the cohort of Regional Representative Coordinators (RV Coordinators for short) – both Maud and Haydee have stepped back, and Jeroen and Tatjana have succeeded them. We look forward to a pleasant collaboration with the latter, and a special compliment to Maud and Haydee for their work, commitment, and continuous coordination over the past few years!
Posthumous: Bart Hilhorst
It is with sadness that we recently learned that Bart Hilhorst, a volunteer from the very beginning—even before the founding of the SNBN—received a recent illness. Bart was deeply concerned about the plight of Dutch citizens living abroad and dedicated himself to them for many years. We wish his surviving relatives much strength in coping with this loss, and we remain committed to fulfilling his greatest wish for Dutch citizens living abroad: the opening up of dual nationality.
SNBN Chairman Eelco Keij speaks in
Dutch Centre, London (July 9)
On Thursday evening, July 9, SNBN Chairman Eelco Keij, together with Monique Hawkins (CEO of The3Million ), will speak in London about Dutch citizenship , the pending private member's bill, EU rights, voting from abroad, banking, and other ongoing issues facing the Dutch diaspora. Naturally, with special attention for Dutch people in the UK.
Do you live in London yourself or are you in the area? You are most welcome! This coming Thursday, July 9, 19:00 - 20:30: Dutch Centre, London. More info & registration: see here .
Survey on VFS Global
The persistent problem of the (excessively!) long waiting times for a new passport at various diplomatic posts has unfortunately been known for years – and we have been working on this frequently and extensively behind the scenes. What was perhaps less known, unless confronted with it firsthand, is the role of VFS Global .
This company is hired by many countries (including the Netherlands) to arrange passport renewals, among other things, in places where no diplomatic post of their own exists. And here, too, it is often very busy. Rumors about the underhand selling of appointments, and the sudden need to pay extra for all kinds of services that were not properly advertised—a sort of Ryanair-ization of the passport trade—had already reached our ears.
We have moved past those rumors by now: a recent article by Politico.eu (“ How a company visas to Europe turned into big business ”) is the result of a year of journalistic research. This article also appeared in the latest newsletter. Read and shudder for yourself.
This is unacceptable. At the same time, we do not yet have a clear enough picture of how many Dutch people have been affected, nor where or when. That is why the SNBN inquiry committee has drawn up this survey , with a friendly and urgent request to everyone who has experience with VFS Global to complete the survey (link) .
Day of the Dutch outside the Netherlands
(3 Sept) & consideration of the dual nationality bill
The third edition of the Day of the Dutch Outside the Netherlands will take place this Thursday morning, September 3, in Nieuwspoort, The Hague. Members of Parliament from D66, VVD, and PRO have already pledged to attend, alongside scientist Betty de Hart (Vrije Universiteit).
We are delighted to be able to organize this wonderful day again this year, in collaboration with, among others, Stichting Nederlands Onderwijs in het Buitenland , Nederlandse Wereldwijde Studenten , Stichting Goed, and Vereniging Belangenbehartiging Nederlands Gepensioneerden in het Buitenland .
In the Netherlands by chance? Come along! A family member of and supporter of the SNBN? Come along! Professionally interested? Come along! You can register for in-person participation in The Hague here (link) . The event will also be broadcast live via the website. More details to follow!
Without calling it a farce out loud, we must report that the consideration of the private member's bill on dual nationality has been postponed again , this time just past Prinsjesdag. Behind the scenes, we are asking Members of Parliament to prevent further delays – something we can also ask them about in person during the Day of the Dutch outside the Netherlands.
Finally: renting Nieuwspoort, organizing the day, and engaging a moderator are not free. Donations to make this day possible are very welcome – regardless of the currency, and every little bit helps!
Call for help: help sought with official English translation of SNBN statutes and several other documents
The SNBN is urgently seeking help with an official English translation of the SNBN statutes and a number of other official documents. Who would like to help us with this? Please respond via info@snbn.nl – and thank you in advance!
Without you, there would be no SNBN:
Help out!
The Foundation for Dutch People Abroad (SNBN) works daily, entirely on a voluntary basis, for the interests of Dutch people abroad .
Whether it concerns nationality issues, voting rights, pensions, or other practical and political obstacles: we ensure that your voice is heard in The Hague. But we cannot do this alone. Our activities depend on support from stakeholders like you. With your contribution — large or small, one-off or recurring — we can continue to stand up for the rights of Dutch citizens abroad. Every donation makes a difference . Together, we make policy fairer, more understandable, and more accessible for everyone with a Dutch passport, wherever in the world you live.
Thank you for your support!