Dual nationality not a problem, says minister

The Netherlands does not have a problem with dual nationality, and contributing to society has nothing to do with the number of passports you hold, justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin is quoted as saying in Monday’s Volkskrant.


On Friday the minister submitted plans to parliament to force children who move to the Netherlands to ditch their old nationality when they become Dutch – unless they qualify for an exemption.
This change is purely legal, Hirsch Ballin said. Other groups are already required to reject their original nationality when becoming Dutch. ‘We are making the law equal,’ the minister said.
The long list of exceptions which currently apply will also continue, Hirsch Ballin said. People who legally cannot reject their original nationality, who are married to a Dutch national, or who would be seriously disadvantaged by losing their other nationality are already allowed to keep both.
The minister also plans to remove Dutch nationality from multiple passport holders who commit serious crimes, such as terrorist offences.
The plan has the backing of a majority of MPs.

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