THE HAGUE--A vast majority in the Second Chamber on Tuesday approved the legislation proposal to amend the Kingdom Law Dutch Nationality (Rijkswet op Nederlanderschap).
A total of 140 Members of Parliament (MP’s) said “yes” to the amendment to the Kingdom law which makes it more difficult for foreigners in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba to attain Dutch citizenship. Ten MP’s voted against.
Once proclaimed, the amended law will make the criteria to obtain the Dutch nationality much stricter. These include a proper command of the Dutch language and having knowledge of society and of the constitution of the Kingdom. Applicants will have to pass an exam.
The amended law mainly serves to reduce multiple nationalities, double passports in the Netherlands. Opposition parties Party for Freedom PVV and the one-member Verdonk faction voted against the law proposal. The two parties wanted a more far-reaching law change which completely eliminated double nationalities.
