WILLEMSTAD – The Kingdom government wants to permanently maintain the authority to revoke Dutch nationality from people who join terrorist organizations while abroad. The temporary measure would expire on March 1, 2027, unless a new Kingdom Act is adopted.
The proposal for a new Kingdom Act has been sent to the Curaçao Parliament through Governor Mauritsz de Kort. Because nationality is a Kingdom matter, the legislation would apply to Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten as well.
Under the proposed law, Dutch nationality may be revoked from persons aged 18 or older who are outside the Kingdom and have demonstrably joined a designated terrorist organization. A criminal conviction is not required before the measure can be applied.
However, the measure can only be used against individuals who hold another nationality. A person cannot become stateless as a result of losing Dutch nationality. This means the measure only applies to people with dual or multiple nationalities.
The regulation also applies to Dutch citizens who previously lived in Curaçao, Aruba or Sint Maarten before leaving the Kingdom.
Currently designated terrorist organizations include Al Qaida, ISIS, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and affiliated groups.
Anyone who loses Dutch nationality under the measure is also declared an undesirable foreign national. Their Dutch passport becomes invalid, legal return to the Kingdom becomes impossible, and information about the person and the cancelled travel document is registered internationally.
The authority was introduced temporarily in 2017 and extended in 2022. The government argues that the terrorist threat remains and that individuals returning after joining terrorist groups may pose risks because of their contacts, training and possible combat experience.
The proposed law does not change the conditions under which nationality can be revoked. It only removes the expiration date, allowing the authority to continue permanently after March 2027.