This document summarizes semi-structured interviews conducted with 82 migrants in the Netherlands from various countries of origin. It finds that 17 migrants had lived in the Netherlands longer than their current residence permits allow. Many cited family/friends, education quality, and financial reasons for choosing the Netherlands. While technologies help them stay connected abroad, migration negatively impacts family relationships. The document also examines the migrants' employment status, language learning challenges, experiences with discrimination, and perspectives on Dutch culture. It concludes with recommendations to improve migration policies such as helping spouses of skilled workers find jobs and encouraging circular migration.

1. Task 2.2: Semi-structured interviews among
individual people
The Netherlands
Natasja Reslow

2. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Sample
Category No. of
interviews
Country of origin/destination
Family 10 Iran, India, Philippines, China,
Taiwan/United States
Study 31 South Korea, China, Vietnam,
Indonesia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Saudi
Arabia, Thailand, Oman
Highly-skilled 17 Iran, India, Philippines, Indonesia,
China
Search year 7 China, Philippines, Indonesia
Researcher 10 Indonesia, India, China, Iran
Au pair 1 Philippines
Intern 1 China
Asylum 1 Palestine
Family of Dutch abroad 3 Thailand
Transnational migrant 1 Thailand
TOTAL 82

3. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Migration processes
• ‘Temporary migration’: 17 migrants in
NL longer than length of current
residence permit
• Choice for NL: family/friends; quality
of Dutch universities; financial reasons
• 33 interviewees had lived abroad
before

4. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Migration processes
• Contradictory answers on future
migration plans
• Positive view of emigration  migrants
unable to discuss experiences with
family/friends
• Negative impact on relationships with
family/friends, despite technology
• Dual impact on religion

5. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Politico-legal aspects
• Entitlements/benefits in NL not
available to all migrants
• Near universal experience of
discrimination, prejudice or
stereotyping
• Most interviewees not politically
engaged

6. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Socio-economic aspects
• Employment status:
– 33 full-time employed, 9 part-time employed, 36
unemployed
– 6/10 family migrants employed, 4/31 students
employed, 3/7 ‘search year’ permits employed
• Non-Dutch speakers struggle to find
work!
• Several interviewees were receiving
remittances

7. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Socio-cultural aspects
• Reasons for not learning Dutch:
– Lack of time
– Good level of English spoken by Dutch
people
– Difficulty of Dutch language
– Dutch not widely spoken
– Foreseen short stay in the Netherlands
– Cost of the course

8. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Socio-cultural aspects
• BUT not learning Dutch  difficult to
establish social relations with Dutch
people
• Communications technology: easy to
communicate across borders
• Visiting the country of origin 
“reverse culture shock”

9. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Socio-cultural aspects
• Positive aspects of life in NL:
– Environment and air quality
– Public transportation
– Work-life balance
– Equality
– Freedom
– Quality of life
• Dissatisfaction with Dutch medical
culture

10. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Conclusion
• Making migration to NL easier:
– Help spouses of highly-skilled migrants to find
work
– Make it cheaper/easier for businesses to keep an
employee hired on ‘search year’ permit
– Make it easier for Asian nationals to visit family
members in NL
– Encourage circular migration
– Expand 30% tax ruling

11. Faculty of Law/ Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Conclusion
– Provide migrants with information on Dutch
migration regulations
– Ensure Asian students are familiar with Dutch
study system before arriving
– Organise/sponsor community events to bring
migrants and locals together