Information checked on 9 October 2026.
For Dutch migrants in Australia, becoming an Australian citizen can raise a difficult question: will they retain their Dutch nationality? Australia permits dual citizenship, but Dutch law generally provides for automatic loss of Dutch nationality when an adult voluntarily acquires another nationality. There are, however, important exceptions. It is therefore inaccurate to describe the Netherlands as having a complete ban on dual nationality.
For the Dutch-Australian community, the issue brings together citizenship, migration and continuing connections with the Netherlands. It has also become the subject of a longstanding campaign for legislative reform.
The current rules and exceptions
Under the rules explained by NetherlandsWorldwide, a Dutch person who voluntarily becomes Australian normally loses Dutch nationality, unless an exception applies. Since 1 April 2003, the principal exceptions have been:
- Being born in Australia and living there when acquiring Australian nationality.
- Having lived in Australia for at least five uninterrupted years before turning 18.
- Being married to, or in a registered partnership with, an Australian citizen on the day Australian nationality is acquired.
Consequently, some Dutch migrants can become Australian while retaining Dutch nationality. Dual nationality can also arise at birth. Historical cases need to be assessed under the rules applicable at the time.
A separate rule affects adults who already hold Dutch and another nationality and live outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union. Dutch nationality can be lost after 13 uninterrupted years if the relevant conditions are met. Receiving a new Dutch passport, identity card or certificate of Dutch nationality within the deadline restarts the period. Merely submitting an application before the deadline is insufficient.
The IND’s guidance on losing Dutch nationality and the government’s overview of dual nationality explain these rules.
How other countries compare
The Netherlands takes a more restrictive approach than several comparable countries. However, it is not the only country to restrict dual nationality.
| Country | General position |
|---|---|
| Australia | Allows dual citizenship. Whether migrants retain their original citizenship also depends on their country of origin. |
| United Kingdom | Allows dual citizenship; British citizens can acquire another citizenship while retaining British citizenship. |
| Canada | Allows dual citizenship. |
| France | Allows people to hold two or more nationalities. |
| Belgium | Acquiring another nationality no longer causes loss of Belgian nationality. This has applied to all foreign nationalities since 28 April 2008. |
| Germany | Since 27 June 2024, acquiring foreign citizenship no longer causes loss of German citizenship. Multiple citizenship is also permitted for people naturalising in Germany. |
These comparisons concern general rules; countries may have other provisions governing nationality retention or loss. Austria, for example, generally withdraws citizenship when someone voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality unless prior permission to retain Austrian citizenship has been granted.
The campaign by Nederlanders Buiten Nederland
Stichting Nederlanders Buiten Nederland (SNBN) advocates for Dutch citizens living abroad. Its nationality information pages cover retaining and regaining Dutch nationality and its campaign to broaden access to dual nationality.
SNBN argues that becoming a citizen of one’s country of residence should not require losing Dutch citizenship. Its campaign reflects concerns among emigrants who want to participate fully in their adopted country while maintaining their legal connection with the Netherlands.
SNBN describes its work as a continuation of a worldwide campaign begun in 2011, followed by the establishment of the foundation in 2019. It has helped maintain political attention through lobbying, information sessions and accounts from affected citizens. The parliamentary proposal itself is an initiative of Dutch MPs.
Where reform stands in October 2026
The parliamentary bill, dossier 34 632 (R2080), was originally submitted in December 2016. The official dossier identifies Jan Paternotte and Songül Mutluer as its sponsors following their takeover of its defence in January 2024.
The proposal would remove automatic loss of Dutch nationality on voluntarily acquiring another nationality, remove the loss rule associated with prolonged residence abroad, and remove the requirement for people acquiring Dutch nationality to renounce their original nationality. It also proposes a route for certain former Dutch citizens to regain nationality.
A separate political commitment appears in the January 2026 coalition agreement, “Aan de slag”, on printed page 40. It promises to modernise the law so that Dutch citizens abroad do not lose nationality more readily than citizens of Germany, Belgium, France or the United Kingdom. It retains renunciation as the starting point for newcomers naturalising in the Netherlands. This is narrower than the existing parliamentary bill.
In its 9 September 2026 update, SNBN reported that debate had again been postponed, to December. The Tweede Kamer agenda, checked on 9 October, lists week 50, beginning 7 December 2026.
SNBN’s assessment is that support is broader for allowing Dutch citizens abroad to acquire a second nationality than for the bill’s provisions concerning people naturalising in the Netherlands. That remains the organisation’s political assessment, rather than a parliamentary decision.
The reform has not yet become law. The Eerste Kamer’s official dossier still records the proposal as being considered by the Tweede Kamer. Dutch Australians considering naturalisation should therefore check their position under the current rules rather than assume that announced reform already applies.
