Immigration to the Netherlands rose to record highs in 2022

Recent figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reveal that 2022 saw a significant increase in the number of people who moved to the Netherlands, largely due to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. 

CBS: Immigration rises above pre-pandemic levels

Recent figures published by CBS have already shown that the population of the Netherlands continues to grow, solely as a result of migration. Still, the most recent data published by the Dutch statistics office reveals that migration figures in 2022 were significantly higher than in 2019, before the outbreak of coronavirus. 

Last year, 403.000 people migrated to the Netherlands - an increase of 151.000 compared to 2021, and 134.000 more than in 2019. In 2022, almost 129.000 of those who relocated were from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, while just under 44.000 were Dutch citizens who returned to the Netherlands.

110.000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in the Netherlands

Of those who relocated to the Netherlands in 2022, CBS reports that almost 110.000 made use of the Temporary Protection Directive (RTB), which provides refugees from Ukraine with the right to reception, healthcare, education and work. 

While the ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in higher migration figures for 2022, CBS notes that, of the 230.000 non-EU citizens who relocated to the Netherlands last year, many also made the move for a job (29.000), for their family (39,500), or to attend university (21,000). 

Of the 26.100 people who moved to the Netherlands under a highly skilled migrant permit, most held Indian nationality, with CBS reporting that “there were also relatively many highly skilled migrants with Turkish, Russian or South African nationality.”

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