The Canadian Netherlands Business and Professional Association (CNBPA): NEWS -  January 2012

There are concerns amongst Dutch citizens in Canada about dual citizenship as the Dutch government is proposing to change the rules on dual Dutch citizenship. Many people that emigrated from The Netherlands to Canada (either in the years after World War II or more recently) and their children are uncertain about the rules that govern dual citizenship these days. They wonder whether they are still Dutch and if they are still allowed to hold both Dutch and Canadian citizenships. There is much information available on various websites, but the overload of information often leads to more confusion. Given the controversy around the subject, we would like to remind you of a few key issues to keep in mind.

Individuals with a Dutch and Canadian parent as well as individuals born in Canada with at least one Dutch parent are automatically entitled to both nationalities, as long as, at least one parent remains Dutch until the individual turns 18 years of age. In general, Dutch citizenship is automatic for someone with a Dutch parent, no matter in which part of the world the child was born (The principle is Jus Sanguinis = right to nationality based on parentage. Dutch = bloedrecht). However, in Canada, just like the USA, the legal principle is Jus Solis (= law of soil, or principle of territoriality. Dutch = grondrecht). As always, exceptions and conditions may apply.

Although each individual's case may differ and restrictions often apply, the main Dutch law regarding dual citizenship (since 1892, still in effect) rules that: when you, as an adult, take on another nationality: you lose your Dutch citizenship
However, since April 1, 2003, if you become a Canadian citizen as an adult, you will not lose your Dutch citizenship if (in this country):
1) You were born in Canada
2) You are/were married to a Canadian citizen at the time of your naturalization
3) You (can prove that) you lived and/or were educated in Canada for five consecutive years as a minor (under 18 years of age).

At present, if you became a Canadian citizen as an adult BEFORE April 1, 2003 (and thereby lost your Dutch citizenship), and one of the above exceptions is applicable to you and can be proven with documentation, you can file an option to regain citizenship, before April 1, 2013 by contacting a diplomatic mission. See also:

As the legislation governing this whole topic is extraordinarily complex, with restrictions and exceptions to nearly every article of the law, it is virtually impossible to present generic guidelines regarding the (im)possibility of (re)gaining or keeping Dutch citizenship. On top of this, the applicability of various regulations depends on a large number of individual factors, for instance when you were born in Canada, when you became a citizen of Canada and which national law was in effect at that time. Each application for Dutch citizenship therefore must be judged on its own merits. If you are a (former) Dutch citizen residing abroad, it is highly recommended that you contact the Dutch Embassy or a Consulate-General with specific questions concerning your (or your family's) situation when it comes to dual citizenship.

If you already are a dual citizen, and if you, as an adult, reside for an uninterrupted period of 10 years outside The Netherlands (inclusive BES islands), Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and outside the EU, you lose your Dutch citizenship. You can prevent loss, however, if you renew your passport / obtain a declaration of Dutch citizenship before the ten-year period is completed. Once you renew, a new period of ten years will commence (note: the current grace period expires 1 April 2013). Therefore, if dual citizens wish to retain their Dutch citizenship: check the expiry date of your last Dutch passport and don't allow this to expire by more than 5 years. Always ensure that your request for extension is submitted in time. For information on Dutch naturalization, and regaining Dutch citizenship by taking up residence in The Netherlands, visit the IND or Dutch missions' link.

For further information on all current nationality issues, visit
http://www.dutchmissions.com  (Diplomatic Mission in Canada)
http://www.ind.nl  (Immigration, naturalization)
http://english.ind.nl/Brochures_en_Formulieren/index.aspx  (Brochure "Former Dutch nationals")
http://www.minbuza.nl  (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken Den Haag)
http://www.minbuza.nl/producten-en-diensten/burgerzaken/nederlandse-nationaliteit   (Dutch)
http://www.minbuza.nl/en/services/consular-services/dutch-nationality  (English)
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/nederlandse-nationaliteit/documenten-en-publicaties/richtlijnen/2008/07/16/uitzonderingen-en-toelichting-op-het-verliezen-van-de-nederlandse-nationaliteit.html > (Toelichting dubbele nationaliteit verlies)
http://www.minbuza.nl/producten-en-diensten/burgerzaken/nederlandse-nationaliteit/herkrijgen-nederlanderschap.html > (Toelichting opties: geboren in Canada)
http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBW33099  To view legislation > (Dutch only): Handleiding Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap: RWN 2003
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/nederlandse-nationaliteit > (Dutch)

Inquiries: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/contact/contactformulier

CNBPA INFORMATION
contact information:
http://cnbpa.ca/aboutus.asp
news: http://cnbpa.ca/news.asp
website: http://cnbpa.ca/index.asp
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text7250 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PDF version of this newsletter (1.7MB)
HTML version of this email
First sent January 19, 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012
CNN has made a half hour long interview with HM Queen Margrethe. The interview with her majesty the queen is on CNN International on the actual anniversary day, 14th in January, at 10:30 pm (CET) on CNN International.  Please click on the link below for further details.
http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/TheEmbassy/News/HMQueenMargrethe2ndOfDenmarks40thJubileeAsReign.htm?printmode=True

Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Earlier this week, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barrosso officially handed over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union to Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt in Bella Center in Copenhagen. The Danish government must give priority to a more dynamic, open, secure and greener Europe, said Barroso. He's confident that the Danish Presidency will bring the EU closer to its citizens. It's the 7th time that Denmark holds the EU Presidency. 

Further reading & details:

Programme: Meeting of the Danish Government and European Commission  (2012.01.11-12)

Photos: from the EU Commission's visit to Denmark  (2012.01.11-12)

The Presidency, the EU and Denmark (eu2012.dk)

Brussels Report: WCO Secretary General addresses EU customs representatives  (2012.01.11)

11 January 2012 report by the World Customs Organization.
At the invitation of the Danish Presidency of the European Union, the Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, addressed the EU Customs Union Group (CUG) in Brussels on Wednesday, 11 January 2012.
Denmark which has responsibility for guiding the EU for a six months period from 1 January to 30 June 2012 continued the practice of inviting the WCO Secretary General and the Director General of the European Commission's DG Taxud to outline their principal objectives for the coming year at the first meeting of the CUG during Denmark's term at the helm of the EU.

IATA  (the  International  Air  Transport  Association)  recently  announced  global  traffic  results  for  
November  showing  a  softening  in  passenger  markets  while  air  cargo  markets  remained  weak.  
Passenger  traffic  was  4.3%  above  November  2010  but  0.5%  lower  than  October  2011  on  a   seasonally-­‐adjusted  basis.

Freight  markets  were  3.1%  below  November  2010, in  spite  of  a 1.1%  increase  compared  to   October  2011.

Weak  global  economic  performance  is  being  reflected  in  air  transport  markets.  Freight  markets   have  contracted  4%  compared  to  January.  Although  passenger  markets  have  shown  some   growth,  the  trend  has  been  both  soft  and  volatile.

Globally,  passenger  load  factors  have  fallen  sharply  to  76.3%  from  78.5%  in  October.  This  shows   that  the  weakness  in  passenger  demand  is  outpacing  airlines' ability  to  adjust  capacity   accordingly.  Regional  differences  are  sharp.  While  North  American  carriers  saw  a  0.8%  decline   in  travel,  carriers  in  the  Middle  East  experienced  a  10.1%  increase,  followed  by  9%  for  Latin   American  airlines.

Read more...

By Ken Mark, a freelance writer specializing in international trade and investment. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A trio of speakers at the recent EUCOCIT update on the ninth round of Canada-EU CETA negotiations all agreed that the “heavy lifting” remains.   

That end game of the Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement requires politicians on both sides to trade off gains in one sector against concessions in others. The talks have progressed slowly of late to accommodate European unfamiliarity with Canada’s negative-list approach and the inclusion of investments to the agenda.

Both topics will strengthen the ultimate agreement. The negative-list approach accepts everything except items specifically excluded. (In contrast, a positive-list version would only include cited items.) The advantage is that many goods and services that will dominate the future economy do not currently exist. By being more flexible, a negative-list agreement reduces the need for possible changes.