SNBN Newsletter Sept 9: Review and Outlook Day of the Dutch Abroad
Looking back and looking forward: the Day of the Dutch outside the Netherlands
The Day of the Dutch Abroad began last Thursday, September 3, in Nieuwspoort with a full house, with the theme: dual nationality. While the CDA and the BBB unfortunately cancelled in the end, D66 (Jan Schoonis), PRO (Fatihya Abdi), and VVD (Bente Becker) were present to provide clarification on their parties' positions regarding the frequently cited bill of D66 & PRO , flanked by Professor Betty de Hart and lawyer Hermie de Voer. The Day concluded with a call from Nathalie Pilk (Elections Unit, Ministry of the Interior) to register for the upcoming elections of the Electoral College for Non-Residents via www.stemmenvanuithetbuitenland.nl
Everything was recorded, and the full broadcast can be watched here .
A more detailed written report can be read here .
And: see here for a short “aftermath” video .
from left to right: Frits Huffnagel (moderator), Bente Becker (VVD), Jan Schoonis (D66), Fatihya Abdi (PRO), Prof. Betty de Hart, lawyer Hermie de Voer
Once again, many thanks to everyone who contributed to this day through co-organization, donations, suggestions, and especially by submitting the many stories and videos from all over the world, which we actively used for and during the panel discussion! We will share all the videos with the Members of Parliament closer to the debate. That debate was scheduled for October 6th, but the irony is, of course, that less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the Day in Nieuwspoort, the debate on the bill was once again postponed by the Clerk's Office until week 50, or December . In hindsight, it turned out that even Members of Parliament were surprised by this.
Interpretation of the outcome of September 3: What were the findings, where does the bill 'stand', and what are the chances that it will pass through the House of Representatives unscathed? We will leave the Senate out of consideration for now: with the upcoming elections approaching, its current composition is less relevant.
The conclusion appears to be that the current bill as a whole will currently not have a majority in the House of Representatives. It became crystal clear that there is a large majority in favor of granting Dutch citizens living outside the Netherlands a second nationality. Bente Becker of the VVD said to the audience, which included several involuntary former Dutch citizens: “you are all simply Dutch citizens.” Allowing dual nationality for foreigners coming to the Netherlands, which is part of the bill, is viewed critically (expressed by the VVD).
We have a strong suspicion (based on years of contact) that the CDA shares the same views as the VVD – and consequently, there is simply no majority available for the current legislative proposal. As a politically neutral SNBN, we do not pass judgment on this: this is simply our observation. And in the background, we naturally remain in contact with as many different parties as possible to convince them of our interests.
What, then, can politics actually do?
One option would be – perhaps the only realistic option at present – to amend the bill during the upcoming consideration in such a way that the section concerning Dutch nationals outside the Netherlands “remains,” and the part dealing with foreigners going to the Netherlands or living in the Netherlands is removed. This would leave a bill that would in all likelihood hold a majority. However, it is not yet clear whether the proponents of this bill, D66 and PRO, can accept such a major change.
In principle, it should be possible to deal with these two different subjects separately, provided that a majority can be found for this in the House of Representatives on the spot.
Among others, de Volkskrant was present and described the current divide in this article .
And now?
As for the SNBN, we will naturally continue to approach the various parties, and remain emphasizing and representing the interests of the more than 1 million Dutch people living outside the Netherlands. In the coming period, this will largely take place behind the scenes. Silence on our part therefore does not mean that nothing is happening.
from left to right: attending SNBN board members Tim Rozendaal, Jan Joosten, Eelco Keij, Eelco Fiole, Jacobine van Laar
Questions or comments about the Day of the Dutch Abroad? Let us know via info@snbn.nl !
In the next newsletter, we will be focusing on VFS & passport renewal, among other things – see this recent article – and digital voting.
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The Foundation for Dutch People Abroad (SNBN) works daily, entirely on a voluntary basis, for the interests of Dutch people abroad .
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