Dutch lining up to emigrate

11 May 2005

AMSTERDAM — About 20,000 Dutch people have serious plans to emigrate permanently, demographic research institute NIDI said on Wednesday.

In general, those with serious plans to emigrate have at least a diploma from upper secondary vocational education (MBO) and are aged between 35 and 44. They often earn a good income.

“Just” 2 percent of the Dutch population aged 15 or older is thinking of emigrating in the future, while about one in 10 of this group has serious plans.

This means, from an adult population of 13.2 million, some 250,000 are thinking of emigrating and about 20,000 have serious plans to leave.

Dutch people who want to emigrate want to escape the high population density of the country, the Dutch mentality, crime and the lack of quiet, NIDI said.

In total, 80 percent of people who wish to emigrate think the Netherlands is too densely populated and 77 percent negatively assess the Dutch mentality.

This is in contrast to media reports citing the murders of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, immigration and integration problems and anti-social behaviour as the main factors prompting people to emigrate.

According to NIDI, more than 112,000 people left the Netherlands last year, compared with 90,000 who entered the country, prompting the research bureau to start studying emigration in January.

The traditionally popular destination lands of Canada and Australia remain a common choice, but are difficult places in which to gain residence status. France is listed in third place.

Belgium and Germany are not listed as favourite destinations. This is possibly due to the fact that moving to these two countries is not considered emigrating.

Most emigrants who do move to Belgium or Germany live just across the border to maintain contact with the Netherlands. Their main reason for leaving is fiscal advantages or lower house prices.

Subject: Dutch news