Country briefing: Statelessness and refugees in the Netherlands
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Stateless often people cannot meet the documentation requirements for naturalisation and if a
person is registered as “unknown” nationality they cannot benefit from the exemptions
permitted to those registered as stateless (i.e. they must present a passport).
There is extra vulnerability for victims of human trafficking because of loss of documents to their
trafficker and because of their inability to contact countries of origin for new documents.
The lack of birth or marriage certificates among some stateless populations can be a barrier to
naturalisation.
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WHO ARE THE RELEVANT REFUGEE RESPONSE ACTORS IN THE DUTCH CONTEXT?
Stage
Key actors and roles
Arrival &
registration
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Support during
(repeated) asylum
process
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Determination of
refugee status
Detention &
returns
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Birth registration
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Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Centraal Orgaan
Asielzoekers (COA)) is responsible for the reception of asylum seekers
coming to the Netherlands
The Dutch Council for Refugees, or Vluchtelingenwerk in Dutch, represents
the interests of refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands, from the
moment of entry to integration into Dutch society
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Immigratie- en
Naturalisatiedienst (IND)) is responsible for assessing all applications from
foreign nationals who want to live in the Netherlands or want to become
Dutch citizens
COA
Vluchtelingenwerk/Dutch Council for Refugees
Lawyers
National NGOs (ASKV Refugee Support, INLIA, Vluchtelingen in de Knel,
Stichting ROS, STIL Utrecht, Dutch Council for Refugees, etc.)
IND (see above)
The Repatriation and Departure Service (Dienst Terugkeer & Vertrek
(DT&V)) is responsible for expediting the voluntary and forced departure
of foreign nationals who are not allowed to stay in the Netherlands
Hulpofficier van Justitie (Assistant Public Prosecutor) is involved in the
decision to detain
Stichtling LOS (“Meldpunt Vreemdelingendetentie” project) supports
people in detention - they can be called from inside detention on their free
hotline
International Organisation for Migration provides assistance with
voluntary return
Bridge to Better provides assistance with voluntary return
GoedWerk Foundation provides assistance with voluntary return
Lawyers assist in appealing the decision to detain as well as return
decisions
Municipalities (Gemeente) - A ‘Gemeente’ is the local municipality in which
a person resides and whose office is subsequently responsible for all