Don't panic!
Aug 11th 2005, 12:11 am
#1
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Don't panic!
Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
11 August 2005
AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
became Belgian citizens in 2004.
Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
when living in another state in the union.
Most of the naturalisation applications in Belgium filed by EU
citizens are made by Polish people. The largest group granted Belgian
passports in 2004 comprised of Moroccans (886 people). A
second surprisingly large group was made up of Serbs (452 people).
The Belgian Parliament receives about 12,000 naturalisation
applications annually. The number of approvals was higher in 2004 than
the previous year because the adjudication committee met more often.
Skater Bart Veldkamp is the best-known Dutch person to be become a
naturalised Belgian in recent years. When he could not get a place on
the Dutch team, Veldkamp changed his nationality and took part in
skating championships on behalf of Belgium.
--
Martin
11 August 2005
AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
became Belgian citizens in 2004.
Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
when living in another state in the union.
Most of the naturalisation applications in Belgium filed by EU
citizens are made by Polish people. The largest group granted Belgian
passports in 2004 comprised of Moroccans (886 people). A
second surprisingly large group was made up of Serbs (452 people).
The Belgian Parliament receives about 12,000 naturalisation
applications annually. The number of approvals was higher in 2004 than
the previous year because the adjudication committee met more often.
Skater Bart Veldkamp is the best-known Dutch person to be become a
naturalised Belgian in recent years. When he could not get a place on
the Dutch team, Veldkamp changed his nationality and took part in
skating championships on behalf of Belgium.
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 12:43 am
#2
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Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
Martin a écrit :
> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
> when living in another state in the union.
One difference is that in Belgium you can swap a US driving licence for
a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
need to pass a driving test.
G;
> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
> when living in another state in the union.
One difference is that in Belgium you can swap a US driving licence for
a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
need to pass a driving test.
G;
Aug 11th 2005, 12:43 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
Martin a écrit :
> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
> when living in another state in the union.
One difference is that in Belgium you can swap a US driving licence for
a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
need to pass a driving test.
G;
> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
> when living in another state in the union.
One difference is that in Belgium you can swap a US driving licence for
a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
need to pass a driving test.
G;
Aug 11th 2005, 12:50 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>
>11 August 2005
>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>when living in another state in the union.
Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
for me to take citizenship in a country.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>
>11 August 2005
>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>when living in another state in the union.
Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
for me to take citizenship in a country.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Aug 11th 2005, 12:55 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On 11 Aug 2005 05:43:33 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Martin a écrit :
>> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>> when living in another state in the union.
>One difference is that in Belgium
I thought that Dutch people had got wind of the BBC propagated rumour
that Dutch sea defences were not going to be maintained and that the
Dutch govt. would move the population away from the sea instead. (
It's the real reason for building the HSR/TGV line in NL)
> you can swap a US driving licence for
>a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
>need to pass a driving test.
I didn't know that. I swapped an Oz license for a Dutch one. In fact
they returned the license and asked me to return it South Australia,
because they didn't know who to send it too.
Nowadays, they aren't allowed to keep the original license.
Are you sure they won't accept a US license?
--
Martin
>Martin a écrit :
>> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>> when living in another state in the union.
>One difference is that in Belgium
I thought that Dutch people had got wind of the BBC propagated rumour
that Dutch sea defences were not going to be maintained and that the
Dutch govt. would move the population away from the sea instead. (
It's the real reason for building the HSR/TGV line in NL)
> you can swap a US driving licence for
>a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
>need to pass a driving test.
I didn't know that. I swapped an Oz license for a Dutch one. In fact
they returned the license and asked me to return it South Australia,
because they didn't know who to send it too.
Nowadays, they aren't allowed to keep the original license.
Are you sure they won't accept a US license?
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 12:55 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On 11 Aug 2005 05:43:43 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Martin a écrit :
>> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>> when living in another state in the union.
>One difference is that in Belgium you can swap a US driving licence for
>a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
>need to pass a driving test.
So Gaston just said :-)
--
Martin
>Martin a écrit :
>> Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>> It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>> Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>> EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>> when living in another state in the union.
>One difference is that in Belgium you can swap a US driving licence for
>a European one without a test, whereas in Holland (or UK) you would
>need to pass a driving test.
So Gaston just said :-)
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 12:59 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:50:38 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>
>>11 August 2005
>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>>when living in another state in the union.
>Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
>for me to take citizenship in a country.
EU citizens can vote in local elections and EU elections in NL, but
not in General Elections.
--
Martin
>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>
>>11 August 2005
>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>>when living in another state in the union.
>Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
>for me to take citizenship in a country.
EU citizens can vote in local elections and EU elections in NL, but
not in General Elections.
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 12:59 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
Martin a écrit :
> Are you sure they won't accept a US license?
No, but this is Usenet, so who cares?
The UK certainly don't accept a US license.
G;
> Are you sure they won't accept a US license?
No, but this is Usenet, so who cares?
The UK certainly don't accept a US license.
G;
Aug 11th 2005, 1:00 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
Martin a écrit :
> So Gaston just said :-)
The cheeky young pup - where's his basket when it's needed?
G;
> So Gaston just said :-)
The cheeky young pup - where's his basket when it's needed?
G;
Aug 11th 2005, 1:06 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On 11 Aug 2005 05:59:53 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Martin a écrit :
>> Are you sure they won't accept a US license?
>No, but this is Usenet, so who cares?
>The UK certainly don't accept a US license.
I'm sure the Dutch did. The old trick where I worked was to take a
test in California in the one of the organisation's rented cars.
I never did, I was too worried about having an accident, whilst
driving round the block to prove I could drive
--
Martin
>Martin a écrit :
>> Are you sure they won't accept a US license?
>No, but this is Usenet, so who cares?
>The UK certainly don't accept a US license.
I'm sure the Dutch did. The old trick where I worked was to take a
test in California in the one of the organisation's rented cars.
I never did, I was too worried about having an accident, whilst
driving round the block to prove I could drive
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 1:07 am
#11
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Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On 11 Aug 2005 06:00:46 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Martin a écrit :
>> So Gaston just said :-)
>The cheeky young pup - where's his basket when it's needed?
Talking of baskets, where's Earl, when he's not needed? :-)
--
Martin
>Martin a écrit :
>> So Gaston just said :-)
>The cheeky young pup - where's his basket when it's needed?
Talking of baskets, where's Earl, when he's not needed? :-)
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 1:30 am
#12
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Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:59:50 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:50:38 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>>
>>>11 August 2005
>>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>>>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>>>when living in another state in the union.
>>Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
>>for me to take citizenship in a country.
>EU citizens can vote in local elections and EU elections in NL, but
>not in General Elections.
There's another thing that makes the Lega Nord see red. Genoa proposed
to give legally resident foreigners the right to vote in municipal
elections and the LN had several fits about it. Genoa has had to
rescind the promise.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:50:38 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>>
>>>11 August 2005
>>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>>>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>>>when living in another state in the union.
>>Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
>>for me to take citizenship in a country.
>EU citizens can vote in local elections and EU elections in NL, but
>not in General Elections.
There's another thing that makes the Lega Nord see red. Genoa proposed
to give legally resident foreigners the right to vote in municipal
elections and the LN had several fits about it. Genoa has had to
rescind the promise.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Aug 11th 2005, 1:36 am
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:30:34 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:59:50 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:50:38 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>>>
>>>>11 August 2005
>>>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>>>>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>>>>when living in another state in the union.
>>>Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
>>>for me to take citizenship in a country.
>>EU citizens can vote in local elections and EU elections in NL, but
>>not in General Elections.
>There's another thing that makes the Lega Nord see red. Genoa proposed
>to give legally resident foreigners the right to vote in municipal
>elections and the LN had several fits about it. Genoa has had to
>rescind the promise.
I assumed that expats being able to vote was the result of an EU
directive. I don't recall demonstrations by expats asking to be
enfranchised in NL.
--
Martin
>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:59:50 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:50:38 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:11:11 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>>>
>>>>11 August 2005
>>>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
>>>>EU citizens are supposed to have largely the same rights as locals
>>>>when living in another state in the union.
>>>Can they vote in Belgian elections? That would be a real motivation
>>>for me to take citizenship in a country.
>>EU citizens can vote in local elections and EU elections in NL, but
>>not in General Elections.
>There's another thing that makes the Lega Nord see red. Genoa proposed
>to give legally resident foreigners the right to vote in municipal
>elections and the LN had several fits about it. Genoa has had to
>rescind the promise.
I assumed that expats being able to vote was the result of an EU
directive. I don't recall demonstrations by expats asking to be
enfranchised in NL.
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 1:43 am
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:30:34 +0200, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>There's another thing that makes the Lega Nord see red. Genoa proposed
>to give legally resident foreigners the right to vote in municipal
>elections and the LN had several fits about it. Genoa has had to
>rescind the promise.
EU expatriates resident in the EU have the right to vote in local and
EU elections as a result of the Treaty of Maastricht.
--
Martin
>There's another thing that makes the Lega Nord see red. Genoa proposed
>to give legally resident foreigners the right to vote in municipal
>elections and the LN had several fits about it. Genoa has had to
>rescind the promise.
EU expatriates resident in the EU have the right to vote in local and
EU elections as a result of the Treaty of Maastricht.
--
Martin
Aug 11th 2005, 2:25 am
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't panic!
>>>>>Fifteen Dutch choose Belgian nationality
>>>>>
>>>>>11 August 2005
>>>>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>>>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>>>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>>>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>>>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>>>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
Hi,
I forget which way it goes...
but in the case of belgium and the netherlands aren't there a couple
of little "islands" of the other country completely surrounded by the
other... some remnant of feudal loyalty a few hundred years ago.
>>>>>
>>>>>11 August 2005
>>>>>AMSTERDAM — Fifteen Dutch people were among the 5,258 foreigners who
>>>>>became Belgian citizens in 2004.
>>>>>Their applications were approved by a Belgian parliamentary
>>>>>commission, Flemish broadcaster VRT said on Thursday.
>>>>>It was unclear from the report why the Dutch applicants wanted a
>>>>>Belgian passport as both countries are in the European Union.
Hi,
I forget which way it goes...
but in the case of belgium and the netherlands aren't there a couple
of little "islands" of the other country completely surrounded by the
other... some remnant of feudal loyalty a few hundred years ago.
