News item | 21-11-2025 | 3:00 PM
The government has agreed to submit a bill for consultation that would make it possible to revoke the Dutch citizenship of a person who is abroad and has joined a terrorist organization. This power currently already applies, but it is temporary and will expire in February 2027. The bill ensures that this power is permanently included in the law.
This law makes it possible to revoke the Dutch citizenship of someone over the age of eighteen who is outside the Netherlands and has joined a terrorist organization that poses a threat to our national security. This does not require a criminal conviction. The aim of the withdrawal is to make legal return to the Netherlands or other parts of the Kingdom impossible and to make illegal return more difficult. At the same time as the withdrawal, this person will be declared an undesirable alien.
State Secretary Rutte of Justice and Security: “We do not want people who join terrorist organizations abroad to simply return to the Kingdom. By being able to revoke Dutch citizenship, we prevent them from claiming Dutch citizenship and we keep our country safe. That is why it is important that this power soon becomes permanent.”
By permanently including this power in the law, the government wants to prevent people who join a terrorist organization from returning to the Netherlands or other parts of the Kingdom. Dutch people who travel abroad to join a terrorist organization pose a major risk to national security. It is expected that this persistent terrorist threat will not decrease in the near future, partly due to the current geopolitical conditions.
The bill will be subject to (internet) consultation for a period of four weeks. This is shorter than usual because it is an existing authority. This way, the law can be dealt with expeditiously. Anyone can respond to the proposal. The responses will be used to further improve the bill before it is submitted to the Council of State for advice and then presented to the House of Representatives.