Integration policy : Netherlands country report

Abstract

This paper describes the policy framework regarding the integration of migrants in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has not enacted a specific integration policy but instead has a strategic focus on participation and social diversity in general, with a particular focus on the importance of shared core national values in the integration of migrants. Two particular policy tools are discussed, starting with the compulsory civic integration system, which includes language and cultural elements and is compulsory. Civic integration tests are arranged in the countries of origin and since 2013, migrants have been required to cover the costs of their own courses and examinations. Second, the so-called “participation agreements” are described and discussed, which, in line with the Dutch emphasis on shared national values, aim to enforce acceptance of particular fundamental norms of Dutch society on newcomers. Finally, the report concludes with a brief discussion of the role of domestic organisations in supporting migrants, followed by a succinct overview of the current popular debates concerning migration in the Netherlands.