SNBN Newsletter March 7: Middle East Crisis, Student Finance, AOW & much more
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Dear Dutch people outside the Netherlands and interested parties!
Welcome to this (full) newsletter from the Foundation of Dutch People Abroad.
This time with the following topics:
Middle East crisis
Preliminary announcement of the consideration of the initiative bill on dual nationality
SNBN organization and board vacancy
Applying for student finance from abroad (watch webinar)
Right to foreign pension and AOW
Repeat emigration fair (21 & 22 March in Utrecht)
Research on Dutch people and language
Middle East crisis
With tensions in the Middle East escalating, many Dutch travelers are stranded there. Many are desperately searching for ways to leave the area. The Dutch government has created a Crisis Contact Form for them . However, this form is not intended for Dutch citizens living in the region. Do you live in the region and are you unable to get the assistance you'd like from the Dutch government? Let us know at info@snbn.nl .
Preliminary announcement of the consideration of the initiative bill on dual nationality
The House of Representatives website announced that the private member's bill to amend nationality law, by Jan Paternotte and Songül Mutluer, is expected to be debated in plenary session in week 15 (April 7-9). Speaking time has been requested by Joost Sneller (D66) and Bente Becker (VVD).
This bill goes beyond what's stated in the coalition agreement (it also allows for dual citizenship for "new" Dutch citizens, not just existing ones); it will therefore be particularly interesting to see how other parties view this.
Organization SNBN
and board vacancy
Following the publication of the board vacancy in the previous newsletter, we received many questions: why are we looking for a VVD member for the board position? After all, the SNBN is politically neutral? Indeed, we are. At the same time, the SNBN wants to achieve improvements for Dutch citizens abroad. This is often only possible through politics. Therefore, our board currently consists of nine members from various political parties, from left to right. They know their party's inner circle and can thus easily access members of parliament and influence party positions. Now that our current VVD member is leaving the board after four years of active service, we are looking for a successor who can continue our lobbying efforts within the VVD. Nominations are open until March 20th.
Interested? Questions? Contact us at info@snbn.nl . An overview of our board members and their political parties can be found here .
Application for student finance
from abroad
NOS recently reported that there are companies that handle student finance applications for a fee, specifically targeting international students—including Dutch students abroad. We'd like to draw our followers' attention to the information provided during the SNBN webinar on the ins and outs of obtaining student finance from abroad — watch the webinar here .
Moreover, within the SNBN, there are volunteers who are very knowledgeable about the application process and are happy to help selflessly. Send your question to info@snbn.nl .
Right to foreign pension and AOW
In many (EU) countries, you're only eligible for a pension (from that country) if you've worked there for a minimum number of years. What many people don't realize is that the years you accrued AOW (state pension) benefits in the Netherlands also count towards those years. Foreign agencies often assume that AOW benefits in the Netherlands are only accrued through work – but the Netherlands is an exception: you also accrue AOW benefits by living in the Netherlands. If you apply for a pension in your country of residence and are asked how many years you worked in the Netherlands, answer with the number of years you accrued AOW benefits.
Reminder call: participate in the emigration fair from March 21-22
On March 21st and 22nd, board members Eelco Keij and Twan Laan, along with several other SNBN volunteers, will be at the Emigration Fair at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. Several SNBN members have already volunteered to help ( thank you very much! ), but because the fair is usually very busy, we're still looking for more people to join us this weekend, even if it's just for a few hours. Interested? Email info@snbn.nl .
Research on Dutch people and language
Why do some Dutch expats pick up the local language while others don't, even after several years abroad? Do Dutch expats in Asia and the Middle East have a different language experience than expats of other nationalities, and what influence do factors like age, gender, sexual orientation, host country, and satisfaction with expat life have? The LangPats A research project funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is investigating this. Have you lived in Asia or the Middle East for at least two years ? Then you can participate in the LangPats survey, conducted by Erasmus University Rotterdam, about your language experiences. As a reward, you could win a dinner for two. The results will be used to develop practical advice on how expats can better prepare for their stay abroad and make the most of the language opportunities that come with it. This can contribute to an enhanced expat experience.
Complete the survey here:
(available in the Dutch, English, French, Italian, Spanish and German)
Without you, there would be no SNBN:
Help us!
The Foundation for Dutch People Abroad (SNBN) works daily, entirely voluntarily, to promote the interests of Dutch people abroad .
Whether it concerns nationality issues, voting rights, pensions, or other practical and political obstacles, we ensure your voice is heard in The Hague. But we can't do it alone. Our activities depend on the support of stakeholders like you. With your contribution—large or small, one-time 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 you live in the world.
Thank you for your support!