‘Lost’ Dutch nationals can claim passport

Thousands of people born to a Dutch mother and foreign father before 1985 will now be able to claim Dutch nationality, under new rules backed by parliament on Thursday.

Prior to 1985, Dutch nationality could only be handed on via the father. The justice ministry says the amendment to the Dutch nationality act could apply to up to 90,000 people.
The new rules also emphasise that people who become Dutch must give up their original nationality, if this is allowed under local law.
In addition, people convicted of terrorist offences or other crimes which ‘damage the essential interests of the state’ can now be stripped of their Dutch passports.