[withinboredom]

I moved from the US to the NL. Love it but I can’t get dual citizenship and getting permanent residence requires knowing the language well enough to pass a test, so why stay? It’s kind of a bummer because my son speaks native-fluent Dutch now. Next up will probably be Ireland.

[freeflight]

> Love it but I can’t get dual citizenship and getting permanent residence requires knowing the language well enough to pass a test, so why stay?

Why did you move there in the first place, raising a kid there, when just learning the language is apparently a hurdle too big to take?

[withinboredom]

Learning the language isn’t the issue, learning the language well enough to pass a test when classes cost nearly €2k a pop is the issue.

[smoe]

To my knowledge to get naturalization in the Netherlands you must have stayed there for ~5 years and the required language level is A2, which is beginner level.

This doesn't sound like a crazy requirement to me. The giving up other nationalities would be a deal breaker for me thought.

[asdadsdad]

Well, if you don't even bother to learn the language of the country you want to become a citizen of, then, yes, why stay indeed...

[withinboredom]

Learning the language to a conversational level as someone who speaks English is exceptionally hard. As soon as a Dutch person hears the accent, they switch to speaking English. Therefore you need very expensive classes to properly learn the vocabulary you’re expected to know for the test. We can stay here forever on our current visa, but I’d rather be a proper resident and be able to take advantage of the entire job market. I’d be happy to pay the money if the Netherlands would let me have a Dutch and American passport. Pre-COVID I didn’t really care, but post-COVID, having a passport to get to my sick family and be guaranteed re-entrance to the US is very important.

[j4yav]

They think they are helping by switching to English. I’ve never had anyone refuse after politely asking to switch back because I’m learning.

[j4yav]

The language test is incredibly easy, for what it’s worth. It is nowhere near fluent, or really even conversationally competent. It’s things like saying the correct words when buying an apple at a store.