2nd annual naturalisation day

Prospective Dutch citizens are required to take part in National Naturalisation Day on Friday. Last year 24 August was designated as National Naturalisation Day and celebrated for the first time. It was on this date in 1815 that the Dutch constitution came into effect.

All municipalities will be welcoming the newly naturalised Dutch citizens. Integration Minister Ella Vogelaar will be attending the festivities in Amsterdam.

Many people who have been granted Dutch citizenship since August last year have already had a party. Large municipalities are required to organise gatherings quite often to grant nationality to newly naturalised Dutch.

Amsterdam has already hosted 33 ceremonies, honouring more than 2,400 new citizens, since the first National Naturalisation Day last year. Municipalities with fewer foreigners organise fewer ceremonies.

The Hague will hold a piano recital for 100 new citizens. The municipality says that “gaining Dutch nationality is an important moment for new Dutch and should not go unnoticed.”

In Leeuwarden the invitees will be welcomed and given a tour of the city hall. In Goirle 15 new citizens will be presented with a real Brabant coffee table.

Foreigners who have completed the naturalisation process are required to attend the ceremony. They will not be granted their naturalisation decision, which is necessary to apply for a passport, until the ceremony. If they fail to turn up they will lose their permission to take Dutch nationality and must begin the procedure anew.

Source: Expatica Netherlands, 23 August 2007

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