News item | 16-10-2025 | 19:14
Language and work are crucial for the integration of immigrants in the Netherlands. Anyone who is allowed to stay in the Netherlands must also participate and go to work. That is why State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (Participation and Integration) wants to remove obstacles to combining language and work. The self-reliance route (Z-route) for immigrants who have had little or no education and/or are illiterate is therefore more focused on work. In addition, part of the language education can be completed in the workplace. The State Secretary reported this in a letter to the House of Representatives. There he also discusses enforcement, special attention to the position of female status holders and Holocaust education.
State Secretary Nobel: “Language and work are crucial for newcomers. That is why we want this to be better combined. That is why we make it possible for learning the language to happen in practice: in the workplace. This way people can get to work faster and we kill two birds with one stone. Every person integrating must make every effort to learn Dutch and get to work, so that you can really participate in our society.”
In 2021, the Integration Act came with strict requirements: in the Z-route, integrators must meet 800 hours of language education and 800 hours of participation activities. The government wants to maintain the intensity of the Z route and at the same time focus more on language learning in the workplace. This group will benefit more from learning Dutch in practice. Integrators in the Z-route are given the opportunity to complete 200 hours of language education during (paid) work, such as a starting job. The State Secretary will adjust the regulations for this purpose.
Fines for failure to comply with the integration obligation on time
An integration obligation also includes enforcement. Nobel: “Integration is not without obligation. An integration obligation also includes a stick behind the door if someone demonstrably does not cooperate in integrating. If you do not do your best, there must be consequences.”
Since the ruling of the Council of State on July 9, 2025, the implementation organization DUO has been significantly limited in its ability to impose a fine if a status holder does not comply with the integration obligation on time. The State Secretary therefore announces that he will work on a change in the law so that such fines can be imposed again. The municipalities also have the authority to impose a fine on an integrator for culpable failure to cooperate with the integration. This authority continues to exist.
Attention for female status holders
The integration policy also pays special attention to female status holders. The State Secretary believes it is important that municipalities and integration consultants pay more attention to the vulnerable position of women in particular in financial dependence. Or women who may be at risk of harmful practices such as honour-related violence. State Secretary Nobel: “In the Netherlands, men and women are equal. It is important that people integrating are given these norms and values. I want to make agreements with the municipalities on how we can better and specifically guide female status holders into work.”
Holocaust education
Integrating also means getting to know the history and values of the Netherlands. The government therefore considers it important that immigrants have knowledge of the Holocaust. That is why, from next year, a start will be made on visiting Holocaust locations as part of integration. A guideline is being drawn up for integration teachers to support them in teaching about this subject. Visiting an institution or museum in the context of Holocaust education contributes to more knowledge and awareness about this dark page in Dutch history. The first visits will take place in 2026 in the form of a pilot.