If you’re an expat living in Amsterdam, you could soon be asked to take Dutch language classes, history lessons, and volunteer time.
That’s right, the PvdA (Labour Party), Amsterdam’s largest political party, calls for expats to take integration courses (inburgeringscursus) when living in the city, reports Het Parool.
One important factor to note is that businesses would be responsible for these courses, rather than the government.
Taking responsibility
The PvdA party leader in Amsterdam, Lian Heinhuis, submitted a proposal requiring expats and businesses in Amsterdam to participate in some kind of integration course.
READ MORE | The Dutch integration (inburgering) exam: the ultimate guide
“You can earn from the city, but you also have to do your part. [I think] it is only logical that companies feel responsible to facilitate expats as much as possible to become part of the Amsterdam society.”
The proposed course could include things such as language lessons, introductions to neighbourhood initiatives, visits to the volunteer centre, and meetings with long-time, local Amsterdammers.
A large influx of expats
Many expats in Amsterdam end up living in an international bubble and never fully integrate with the Dutch.
In principle, that’s because many only stay in the city for a short time, so they are not required to integrate like other migrants are.
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But in practice, expats have been staying in the Netherlands for much longer, and the question arises as to why and when an immigrant should integrate or not.
Heinhuis hopes her initiative will close the gap between Amsterdammers and expats and see companies take action to help their employees contribute to the city.
Whether this will happen depends on whether businesses are interested in her proposal, but such a proposal can’t be forced unless it’s made national policy.
What do you think of Dutch integration courses for expats? Tell us in the comments below!
I would take the course as long as it doesn’t require some sort of evaluation, is fun and flexible. I would love to have the option as it is not easy to make friends here.
I think this is natural thing. All expats should be integrated into the society in full. I would like to be involved with such activities if I were to move to or live in the Netherlands.
In South Limburg I learned German. Just 2km from Germany everyone spoke German.
Would love this! Great way to meet people, ex-pats and Dutch, and get connected with the community/neighborhoods, learn a bit of the language!
It is completely illegal to ask this of any EU migrant. Ignoring that, the presumption is that expats aren’t contributing. I can tell you now, my tax funds half of the social programs many “amsterdammers” are living off…
‘price increases caused not “by expats” but rather by a combination of Dutch incompetence and Dutch greed;’
Dat is een behoorlijk wilde aanname. Op basis van welke wijze bronnnen haal je dat?
‘make Dutch classes expensive,’
De overheid moet Nederlandse cursussen inderdaad beter sponsoren daar ben ik het mee eens.
‘tell us to not bother to learn Dutch.’
Degene die dat zeggen zijn ook complete idioten. Als je mij ooit tegen komt zul je in elk geval een flink portie Nederlands te horen krijgen, geen woord Engels 😉
I have no problem with courses and books as part of integration efforts. That said, the volunteering part itches a bit. What does that mean? Work for free?
Expats can take all the courses they want, it’s actually the Dutch that make it difficult to integrate with the language. They don’t give you a chance to speak it once they hear you make a mistake, stutter or have an accent. They quickly switch to English.
Dat zijn ook complete idioten
To be frank, I find this article somewhat absurd considering that for over 6 months I’ve been attempting to register for the free Dutch course offered by the city hall unsuccessfully. There are no available spots, and still no responsiveness. I’ve spent over a thousand euros on Dutch courses only to consistently receive replies in English and hear from locals that I’m wasting my time learning their language. I get more opportunities to learn about Spanish culture in a weekend in Spain than in a whole month in Amsterdam. Perhaps the blame doesn’t solely lie with the expat, but maybe the Dutch should also show more appreciation when people are making an effort. They should get their act together with the city hall course before even considering these grand projects.
It is a wonderful idea.
This is ludicrous. So we need to take a course to satisfy some insecure and frustrated Amsterdammer? I hope this is an April fools. It makes me feel like i have to prove I am a good person with a test. What test will Amstsrdammer go through, I wonder, to be more inclusive and welcoming? We already do our part.
As someone who is living the Hague for 1 year, I have been trying to learn dutch by myself but would love the idea of being integrated through non-expensive courses. The minimum you can do is to belong / integrate into the place you live.
Most expats I know want to integrate more, but most Dutch people are reluctant about accepting new people. I’ve been in NL ten years, am now a Dutch citizen, and I wonder if PvdA is playing this angle for political reasons, to try to appeal to growing anti- expat and immigration sentiment. How this measure would help I’m not sure because Dutch people have to change too.
Wij vragen alleen van jullie om enige kennis op te nemen van de Nederlandse taal, dat is alles! En nee wij hoeven ons niet aan te passen, jullie moeten je toch echt enigszins eigen maken met de taal en cultuur van het land als je hier voor een lange tijd verblijft. Dit is niet de omgekeerde wereld!
My wife (Italian) and I (Portuguese) moved to Amsterdam 16 years ago from UK. We did a long dutch course but we still don’t speak. Meanwhile we had 2 kids which are in a dutch school. We have dutch friends and always joined neighbourhood parties. Amsterdam is the most open and international city I know. The real Amsterdamers don’t mind to speak english. Only the country side people complain about Amsterdam as it is
Vanwege mensen zoals jij hoop ik zo erg dat de overheid hier echt eens een keer een einde gaat maken aan een geval zoals jij. Zestien jaar, geen Nederlands kunnen spreken? JIj ben echt zo ongelooflijk fout en respectloos bezig!
I would take the course as long as it’s flexible and fun.
It would be nice if expats would participate as volunteers in their home owners associations (VvE) and their sport clubs they are members of.
On global standards integration shouldn’t be much of an issue considering the netherlands for years has sold itself as a open minded country by legalising prostitution and weed. Now they wanna rebrand themselves and impliment assimilation programmes for expats because they fear they might be losing the fibre that makes their society “dutch”. What they should focus on is educating dutch natives what world standards are internationally. Because if Africa were to demand dutch companies and dutch people speak African languages when in African countries they wouldn’t find that globally welcoming. The country should focus more on teaching expats about how tax works, all the hidden costs expats aren’t aware of. The housing crisis, how to deal with racial discrimination. How to navigate train systems cost effectively. How to register and do medical examinations when handing over their license in exchange for a dutch license. Why is assimilation their main agenda in a global world, where we should be able to live in capetown for 2 years, amsterdam for three years and 6 years in England if we can afford to. But the netherlands only hires high skilled migrants where they lack the workforce and competence and turn around and treat them like they coming to take over the country when in actual fact they need high skilled migrants in some industries to keep the country afloat. The dutch never let low skilled migrants come live in the netherlands but expect others nations to allow them to live in places like south africa and Namibia as they please. Netherlands needs to join the global mindset and break away from this preservation agenda which is bound to eventually evolve as interbreeding and free movement globally becomes an accessible reality for all class group rich or poor. It goes without saying that when in a different country its human nature to want to learn the language but how the people of that country are groomed to think will determine how easy integration will be for expats. And the dutch aren’t the friendliest people and some are stil hung up on their golden age which is contreversial and historically embarrassing to say the least. So what history will they be teaching expats? That’s important too. I would love to Meet amsterdanians through these initiatives but the touch points seem misaligned if you ask me.
‘It goes without saying that when in a different country its human nature to want to learn the language but how the people of that country are groomed to think will determine how easy integration will be for expats.’
Is ook het enige wat van jullie gevraagd wordt. Dus doe dat dan ook je geeft zelf al aan dat dit gewoon normaal is om te doen!
I think it’s very nice proposal! I would for sure join such activities if they are provided by my employer.
Hi. I am learning Dutch and a bit about the history but it is expensive and not free for people who are from outside of Europe. I would love to learn the language and culture.. I already volunteer at the Gementee..
Hopelijk gaat onze overheid dit ook meer sponsoren!
Ha ha! The Dutch will have to learn to let us in first. They are incredibly closed up. Groetjes from an expat who gave up on finding Dutch friends. I speak the language and I did everything to fully integrate, but they won’t let me.
Dat is jammer dat het zo gelopen is. Mijn respect heb je in elk geval door wel gewoon de tijd en moeite te nemen om je aan te willen passen, dat waardeer ik echt!
Give me a break. I’m fine with taking free integration classes but they’re not going to solve the major problems underlying this initiative. This is just using expats as a scapegoat for problems that are largely caused by or enabled by Dutch people themselves. Dutch people complain about immigrants because of bad behavior (mostly) not committed by expats (vs long term low income immigrants, who the Dutch allowed to come here en masse and made no effort to welcome into Dutch culture for 50 years); housing shortages / price increases caused not “by expats” but rather by a combination of Dutch incompetence and Dutch greed; and a failure of (some) expats to learn Dutch because Dutch people 1) refuse to let us practice Dutch with them, 2) make Dutch classes expensive, and/or 3) tell us to not bother to learn Dutch.
AMEN!
‘price increases caused not “by expats” but rather by a combination of Dutch incompetence and Dutch greed;’
Dat is een behoorlijk wilde aanname. Op basis van welke wijze bronnnen haal je dat?
‘make Dutch classes expensive,’
De overheid moet Nederlandse cursussen inderdaad beter sponsoren daar ben ik het mee eens.
‘tell us to not bother to learn Dutch.’
Degene die dat zeggen zijn ook complete idioten. Als je mij ooit tegen komt zul je in elk geval een flink portie Nederlands te horen krijgen, geen woord Engels 😉
How sad that the Netherlands does not offer courses in all regions to help expatriates integrate. I took private lessons, but only reached level A2. Now I’m studying in Belgium, in an intensive, for a super low cost. Anyone who lives there can follow the course for free, and even retake it if they prefer. It would be amazing to have that kind of encouragement here. The courses are too expensive, to achieve fluency you have to invest a lot of money.