Where did this number come from? Considering the coercive techniques, the lies and misinformation fed to the target audience in order to reach this target, was it based on reality or the usual stereotypes?

By CW | October 15, 2009 10:27 AM

This number came from Nos TV, better known as the "Propaganda Channel."

By stevie | October 15, 2009 11:57 AM

I was told the figures come from immigration and are a mix of those whom are new and from those identified with immigration "issues".

For my part this is a good step, the point being that immigrants must attempt to integrate (not assimilate) and that as long as they try they are welcome but if they do not, they should go. You cannot expect a 60 yr old Turkish lady whom is semi-literate whom came in a family migration package to succussfully learn to read and write Dutch but if she tries to learn to speak (and even fails) then she tried and that is the objective.

We can have strong immigration policies, even formal contracts and tests as long as it is not bigot-oriented or on agenda-based BS like from the PVV.

(I am Dutch, ethnically and a Muslim)

By Solkhar | October 15, 2009 1:38 PM

Among the "identified" have been too many who have lived, worked and paid taxes here for years and speak fluent Dutch from what I read here and elsewhere. I'm starting to believe that the government's criteria is anybody who hasn't applied for Dutch citizenship after X number of years living here, although many of them won't NOT because they can't (ie they can't speak Dutch), but because they won't -- either because they are EU and don't need to, or are here on work permits and refuse to give up their original nationality.

I was one of the "identified". Sure, help those who need it and ask for it (and provide appropriate help, not one-size-fits-all), but unrealistic quotas based on faulty information and BSing those with "issues" in the hopes of fulfilling these quotas doesn't solve the problem.

By CW | October 15, 2009 2:36 PM

I was still waiting, over 2 years, to get on this course, even signed-up by a Den Haag Social Worker in 2008, and now I'm being told that I do not qualify as I've not lived here more than 5 years!!!

By Gerard | October 15, 2009 2:59 PM

Solkhar, Well said!

By sandra | October 16, 2009 2:31 PM

They do everything they can to exclude you from that course, because it costs the government money.

I was told that I don't have to do it cause I'm EU citizen. When I said that however I want to do it they said "No, sorry, you don't qualify, you have to find ways yourself".

A couple of months later I find Spanish students who've been in the country only 1 year doing the course for free!!!

By George | October 16, 2009 3:43 PM