Dutch expats in UK to be allowed dual nationality

The Netherlands government has passed a new law that will allow Dutch citizens living in the UK to apply for dual nationality.

However, the same offer will not be reciprocated to British citizens living in the Netherlands.

This means that roughly 100,000 Dutch citizens living in the UK will be able to apply for dual nationality if there’s a no-deal Brexit.

“Dutch nationals in the UK should not become hostages to Brexit,” tweeted Sjoerd Sjoerdsma of the D66, the party that introduced the legislation. “Politicians of all parties must do our best here because there is complete chaos on the other side of the channel.”

The D66 is the junior party in the Netherlands four-party coalition government.

Typically, the Netherlands does not allow its citizens to hold dual nationality. Yet for those who have lived in the UK as permanent residents since before the 2016 referendum, it is willing to make an exception.

The draft legislation originally included the same treatment for the approximately 85,000 British nationals living in the Netherlands. However, this caveat was dropped as the Dutch government believes Brits living in the EU are already afforded more certainty with regard to their right to remain post Brexit.

The number of British citizens taking Dutch nationality has soared since 2016, with more than 1,300 applying last year alone. Unusually, British children born in the Netherlands have the right to dual citizenship when they turn 18.

Article published 11th November 2019