In addition, ‘new’ Dutch people are also expected to know a lot about society. That was not easy for Lucille May Curato, who came over from the Philippines five years ago. “I found that the most difficult part. You have to learn a lot of things about rules, politics, insurance, but also history,” she says. “It was hard, but I could do it.”
Both are happy with their Dutch passports. “It feels good,” Ceca describes. “I am the same person as before, but I now belong in this society. I was already allowed to live here because I had a residence permit. But having a passport sounds a bit different. I am now really a Dutch person.”
17-year-old Faiaz Dindar also had a special day. He was born here in the Netherlands, but only became a real citizen today. “I had to wait a while for it,” he says with a sense of understatement. “It was a combination of many processes. I had to travel a lot to other municipalities and IND buildings.”
His father is originally from Afghanistan. Because Faiaz grew up in the Netherlands, he learned the language very easily. However, there are still some cultural differences. “You know the Tikkie app, right? That’s the biggest difference. Many of my friends use that app, but I never do,” he jokes. Dutch thrift? “Yes haha.”