Dutch nationality law is based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis and is governed by the Kingdom Act on the Netherlands nationality (Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap). Thus citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Dutch parent, irrespective of place of birth. Children born in the Netherlands to two foreign parents do not acquire Dutch citizenship at birth, unless special criteria are met.
Despite the existence of four different countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, only one category of citizen is distinguished in Dutch nationality law (Nederlandse / Dutch).
The Kingdom Act on the Netherlands nationality was significantly amended with effect from 1 April 2003.
Read more about Dutch Nationality Law: Loss of Dutch Citizenship, Dual Citizenship, Citizenship of The European Union, Former Territories, Dutch Citizenship Statistics
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“‘Tis probable Religion after this
Came next in order; which they could not miss.
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And, as their land, so them did re-baptize.”
—Andrew Marvell (1621–1678)
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—Kenneth MacKenzie Clark (20th century)
“At the end of one millennium and nine centuries of Christianity, it remains an unshakable assumption of the law in all Christian countries and of the moral judgment of Christians everywhere that if a man and a woman, entering a room together, close the door behind them, the man will come out sadder and the woman wiser.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)