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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“Paradise endangered: garden snakes and mice are appearing in the shadowy corners of Dutch Old Master paintings.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
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—Kenneth MacKenzie Clark (20th century)
“The law is not a “light” for you or any man to see by; the law is not an instrument of any kind. The law is a causeway upon which so long as he keeps to it a citizen may walk safely.”
—Robert Bolt (1924–1995)