1.2 million Dutch with dual nationality

On 1 January last year, there were 1.2 million people in the Netherlands with at least one other nationality in addition to the Dutch nationality, an increase by 40 thousand relative to 1 January 2010. Nearly half of Dutch with more than one nationality also have a Turkish or Moroccan passport.

Dutch with more than one nationality by other nationality, 1 January 2011

Births accounted for half of increase in 2010

If one of the parents has a non-Dutch nationality alongside the Dutch nationality, their children at birth acquire multiple nationalities in the Netherlands. This applied to 24 thousand children in 2010.

Another 16 thousand persons acquired the Dutch nationality through naturalisation while retaining their original nationality. Nearly 7 thousand persons acquired the Dutch nationality alongside their original nationality through option or adoption.

Altogether, 47 thousand persons became Dutch nationals in 2010 and also retained their original nationality. Save birth, naturalisation, option and adoption, there are also people with a dual nationality who come to the Netherlands or leave the Netherlands. On balance, nearly 7 thousand persons with a dual nationality left the Netherlands in 2010.

Number of people who became Dutch nationals while retaining their original nationality

Lowest number of naturalisation cases since 1990

A total of 18 thousand persons acquired the Dutch nationality through naturalisation in 2010, of whom 16 thousand also retained their original nationality. In the years prior to 2010, the annual number of naturalisations continually varied around 22 thousand. The considerable reduction was predominantly due to the fact that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service dealt with fewer naturalisation applications in 2010 than in previous years. The number of naturalisations has not been this low since 1990.

Number of naturalisations

Three in ten persons naturalised in 2010 are native Turks or Moroccans

Nearly 14 thousand of the 18 thousand people who acquired the Dutch nationality in 2010 were adults and more than 4 thousand were minors. Three in ten were native Turks or Moroccans.

Han Nicolaas and Suzanne Loozen