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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“The French courage proceeds from vanity—the German from phlegm—the Turkish from fanaticism & opium—the Spanish from pride—the English from coolness—the Dutch from obstinacy—the Russian from insensibility—but the Italian from anger.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“If nationality is consent, the state is compulsion.”
—Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881)
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)