Netherlands set for ‘toughest ever immigration’ measures with FIXED CEILING of population size imposed

The Netherlands has braced for its “toughest ever immigration” measures, imposing fixed limits for its population size.

The demographic development commission urged the Dutch Government to adopt a population ceiling between 19 and 20million people by 2050, according to Dutch News.

In Tuesday’s briefing to MPs, immigration minister Marjolein Faber and social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum said that the Cabinet “supports the need to work towards that scenario and to get a grip on immigration”.

The announcement has followed the commission’s previous statement that moderate growth was key to driving economic prosperity as the nation’s population of 18million gets older.

However, the two ministers have issued a warning, arguing that this approach would negatively impact the Netherlands’ public services.

They said that the Dutch Government has picked the “toughest ever package of measures to limit asylum”, choosing to go for a “more selective and targeted policy for all other forms of migration, including labour and education-related movement”.

Additionally, they have asked for further research to be conducted into methods to control immigration, which was “clearly necessary”.

However, other researchers have argued that the country needs foreigners to plug gaps across the nation’s workforce.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• British gang member jailed after £45m worth of drugs hidden in digger sent from Essex to Australia
• Russian warship OPENS FIRE on German helicopter as Putin accused of ‘attack’ on Nato
• ‘Utterly offensive!’ Anti-Israel protesters unveil ‘genocide’ banner outside Parliament

An advisory body on migration has said that the country requires three million more migrants – who work and pay tax by 2040 – the council has said that it was not a realistic goal.

People in the Netherlands, instead, would be required to work increased hours or retire later.

The country’s national statistics agency, CBS, has produced figures that the population grew by almost 40,000 individuals in the first half of 2024.

The figure is a third less than the previous year’s figure, which has reflected significantly low levels of immigration, increased emigrations, as well as more deaths.

For six months from December 9, the new controls are said to include a limit on asylum permits to a maximum length of three years.

Additionally, new rules have been said to restrict opportunities for asylum seekers who have been permitted to stay to reunite with family.

The new controls will be enacted after it successfully acquired backing from ant9-Muslim nationalist PVV party – which is the largest in the parliament.

During the first half of this year, there was a net increase in migration of 46,000, while 92,000 people left the country.