A small token of appreciation for new Dutch citizens on National Naturalization Day
A letter and a small gift for all residents who became Dutch citizens this year. This is how the municipality of Voorschoten will celebrate National Naturalization Day on December 15. In 2024, 61 young people and adults in our village were granted Dutch citizenship. They come from 22 different countries, ranging from Afghanistan and England to France and South Africa.
The naturalization ceremony held on April 18 featured eight new Dutch citizens (photo: Rosalie van der Does)
Five times a year, the municipality of Voorschoten organizes a naturalization ceremony. It is a festive occasion attended by the mayor, along with family and friends. During the ceremony, the candidates—many of whom have lived in Voorschoten for years—take an oath of allegiance, promising to respect the rights and obligations that come with Dutch citizenship. From that moment on, they may officially call themselves Dutch citizens. On November 21, the last naturalization ceremony of the year took place, welcoming 12 new Dutch citizens.
Enriching the Community
“This year, we were able to welcome no fewer than 61 new Dutch citizens to our village,” says Mayor Nadine Stemerdink. “A ceremony like this is always special. On the one hand, they all have their own personal stories. One married a Dutch person, another fled a war, and yet another came here for a great new job. On the other hand, they’ve all made that same important choice to become Dutch citizens. National Naturalization Day is the perfect opportunity to take a moment to reflect on how this enriches our community. In addition to the ‘regular’ naturalization ceremony, we’re doing this by sending a letter and a small gift to all residents who became Dutch citizens this year.”
About Naturalization Day
Since 2008, the entire Netherlands has celebrated National Naturalization Day on December 15, a day set aside to reflect on Dutch citizenship. On that day, a number of new Dutch citizens are granted citizenship during the naturalization ceremony. In addition, the flag is flown at all main government buildings. The day coincides with Kingdom Day, the day on which Queen Juliana signed the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Ridderzaal in The Hague. That was in 1954. Today, the Kingdom consists of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.