Dutch Citizenship Lawyer
Dutch nationality is acquired either by naturalisation, on which the IND decides, or by the option procedure, a declaration made at the municipality that is open only to a limited number of groups. Which route applies depends on your residence history, your descent and your current nationality. Law & More advises on both, and on what happens after a refusal.
Naturalisation
The conditions are set out in Article 8 of the Dutch Nationality Act. The applicant must be of age; there must be no objections to their residence for an indefinite period; they must have had lawful admission and their main residence in the Kingdom for at least five years immediately preceding the request; they must be considered integrated on the basis of knowledge of the Dutch language and of society; and they must declare their willingness to make the declaration of solidarity.
Two misunderstandings are common. There is no income requirement: the Act does not impose one. And the five-year period is not absolute — paragraphs 2 to 6 of Article 8 provide shorter periods for certain categories, among them former Dutch nationals, those married to or living in a durable relationship with a Dutch national for three years, and stateless persons.
Article 9 contains separate grounds for refusal, including serious suspicions, based on the applicant’s conduct, that they pose a danger to public order, morality or the security of the Kingdom, and the failure to do everything possible to lose another nationality: the renunciation requirement. Article 9(3) lists the exceptions. Under Article 9(4) the decision is taken within one year, a period that may be extended at most twice by six months.
The option procedure
Option is not a request but a declaration, made at your municipality, and the only question is whether you belong to one of the groups the Act names. Article 6 sets those groups out exhaustively: among others the adult foreign national born in the Kingdom who has had admission and main residence there ever since, the person who has had admission and main residence since the age of four, the former Dutch national, the person aged 65 or over with fifteen years of admission and main residence, and certain stateless and recognised minor children. Under Article 6(5) the decision follows within thirteen weeks of receipt of the declaration, extendable once by at most thirteen weeks.
One point is often confused. Option is not a route based on descent. Anyone who is Dutch by descent holds that nationality by operation of law, from birth, and needs no procedure at all — what may be needed is proof of it, for instance when applying for a passport.
Dual nationality
The main rule is the renunciation requirement: a person who naturalises and holds another nationality must do everything possible to lose it. Article 9(3) makes exceptions, among others for nationals of states party to certain treaties in this field, for those born in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao or Sint Maarten with main residence there, for the spouse of a Dutch national and for recognised refugees. The requirement is an obligation of effort, bounded by the law of the other state: some states do not permit renunciation, or attach conditions that cannot reasonably be met. Whether loss is in fact possible therefore depends on that other legal system.
After a refusal
Naturalisation and option decisions are not Aliens Act decisions, so the ordinary administrative deadline applies: six weeks under Article 6:7 of the General Administrative Law Act, running from the day after the decision is notified (Article 6:8). If the objection is rejected, an appeal to the district court is open. Refusals commonly turn on the public order assessment, a dispute about the renunciation requirement, doubt about identity documents, or a miscalculation of the residence period — all points that can be contested with documents and argument. For IND procedures more generally, see objections against IND decisions.
What we do
We first establish which route is open and whether the statutory conditions are met. We then assemble the file: residence history, documents, civic integration and, where relevant, the case for an exception to the renunciation requirement. We guide the filing at the municipality or the IND and conduct objection and appeal proceedings where needed. We also look at how the request interacts with your residence permit and, for those still building up their residence years, with work-related permits.
What it costs
We work on an hourly basis: 250-350 euro for a lawyer and 300-400 euro for a partner, excluding VAT. The first introductory meeting is free of charge. Municipal and IND fees are charged separately; current amounts are published on ind.nl. Law & More does not work on legal aid (toevoeging).
Contact
Call +31 40 369 06 80 or email info@lawandmore.nl. Our office is at Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven; by appointment we also receive clients at Pietersbergweg 291 in Amsterdam. We act throughout the Netherlands, in Dutch and English.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an income requirement for naturalisation?
No. Article 8 of the Dutch Nationality Act does not impose one. The conditions are majority, no objections to residence for an indefinite period, five years of admission and main residence, integration and willingness to make the declaration of solidarity. Your residence status does of course have to be in order, and income can play a part there.
How long does a naturalisation request take?
Under Article 9(4) the decision is taken within one year, extendable at most twice by six months. Actual processing times are published on ind.nl. Dutch nationality takes effect only after the declaration of solidarity has been made at the ceremony.
May I keep my original nationality?
The main rule is that you must do everything possible to lose it. Article 9(3) provides exceptions, among others for the spouse of a Dutch national, for those born in the Kingdom with main residence there, and for recognised refugees. Whether renunciation is in fact possible also depends on the law of the other country.
What is the difference between option and naturalisation?
Option is open only to the groups exhaustively listed in Article 6 and runs through a declaration at the municipality. Naturalisation is a request decided by the IND, with integration and residence-period conditions. Option is faster: thirteen weeks, extendable once, against one year for naturalisation.
What deadline applies to an objection?
Six weeks under Article 6:7 Awb, starting the day after the decision is notified. Get in touch in good time so the grounds can be drawn up within the period.
