You are new to the Netherlands and you want to be part of Dutch society. We call this settling in the Netherlands. Some newcomers also need to go through the integration process first.
Settling in the Netherlands means becoming part of Dutch society. You can do this by learning Dutch, volunteering, talking to your neighbours and getting involved with activities in your neighbourhood, for example. This will help you to feel at home in the Netherlands.
Do you want to meet new people in your neighbourhood and have more social interaction? You can do this by playing sports, dancing or volunteering, for example. Ask the Work in NL information point in your region about the possibilities.
Learning Dutch is also part of settling in the Netherlands. If you want to learn Dutch, the government or your employer can help you. More information can be found on the page on learning Dutch.
Some newcomers are required to go through the integration process. Integration can help you find work and can also help you become a Dutch citizen later on. The integration process involves taking classes on the Netherlands and learning Dutch. For more information, go to www.inburgeren.nl.
Most people who come to the Netherlands to join a family member and most refugees with residence status must go through the integration process. You do not need to go through it if you come from an EU country, an EEA country (Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway) or Switzerland. It is also not compulsory for Ukrainian refugees and for non-EU migrants who come to the Netherlands temporarily to study or work. However, you can go through it if you want to. You can get a loan from DUO to help you pay for a course.
No. You do not have to go through the integration process if you are from an EU country, an EEA country (Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway) or Switzerland. However, you can go through it if you want to. You can get a loan from DUO to help you pay for a course.
If you are not from Europe, the Integration process is usually compulsory. It is almost always compulsory for people who move to the Netherlands to join a family member and for refugees with residence status. People from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, migrants from outside the EU who come to the Netherlands temporarily to study or work, and Ukrainian refugees are not required to go through the integration process. However, they can learn Dutch on a voluntary basis.
The government or your employer can help you learn Dutch. There are likely to be language courses near where you live. You can also start to learn Dutch online, for example at www.oefenen.nl. If you have to follow the integration process, you will learn Dutch as part of that process. More information can be found at www.inburgeren.nl.
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