After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, more than eight million Ukrainians fled their country. Today, around 90,000 of them are registered in the Netherlands.
A year after the outbreak of Putin’s war, the NOS has conducted an investigation into the future plans of Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands. Out of the respondents, a third would like to stay.
Note: For this investigation, the NOS surveyed 247 Ukrainian refugees. The results are not representative of the entire Ukrainian refugee population in the Netherlands. They merely offer an insight into the struggles that those affected face.
Divided over future plans
The opinions of Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands are neatly divided. While a third of them claim they would like to stay here, a bit more than a third want to return to their home country. A final third is unsure.
READ MORE | Dutch Foreign Minister pledges continuous support for Ukraine in meeting with Zelensky
Those not wanting to return to Ukraine are generally from hard-hit cities, such as Kharkiv, or have children attending a Dutch primary school.
For those that are unsure of whether they want to stay in the Netherlands, several factors play a role.
Their concerns include the lack of safety in Ukraine, the slim possibilities for work in the Netherlands, and the expensive housing market.
Navigating the job market
Due to unfulfilled language requirements, or unrecognized degrees and diplomas, most Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands work in temporary employment — many of them in the service industry.
According to Statistics Netherlands, 58% of Ukrainians in the Netherlands work less than 25 hours a week — 13% work full time.
READ MOORE | No more work permit requirement for Ukrainian refugees
Often, this is not a voluntary decision, as becomes clear in the NOS report. Anna Synenko (38), who was a pharmaceutical researcher in Ukraine, now works three to four days a week for a catering company.
She told the reporters that, although she has 15 years of work experience in her field, it’s simply not possible for her to get a job in medicine in the Netherlands.
READ MORE | Here’s how you can help Ukraine from the Netherlands [UPDATED]
Minister of Social Affairs, Van Gennip acknowledges that many Ukrainians run into the language problem: “They often speak a little English, but not Dutch, and you need that as a basis for a lot of jobs.”
Impossible to rent in the free sector
Many highly educated Ukrainian refugees, like Synenko, claim they do not make enough money to rent a home in the free sector.
Irina Sureieva, who currently works at a bakery and in a supermarket, says it’s impossible for her and her husband to earn enough for their own home.
“Most Ukrainians earn no more than minimum wage, because they have no work experience in the Netherlands. So it is impossible to rent a private home because, in the private sector, your income must be three to four times higher than the rent,” she told the NOS.
Unfortunately, Ukrainians around the world are facing similar situations in their host countries.
What do you think about the situation of Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments.