ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AAN) — Many people are unaware that the loss of Dutch nationality living abroad can occur automatically after an extended period outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union, particularly for individuals holding dual nationality.
Dutch citizens who reside continuously outside the EU for a prolonged period and fail to renew their Dutch passport may lose both their Dutch and European citizenship. This situation has affected some Arubans who also hold U.S. nationality, often without their prior knowledge.
The Tjebbes ruling (C-221/17) by the Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed that this loss of nationality is compatible with EU law, provided that the principle of proportionality is respected. In individual cases, this means the loss of nationality may be reviewed and, under certain conditions, potentially reversed through an option procedure.
In light of this topic, a public lecture will take place today, Monday, January 26, 2026, addressing the loss of Dutch nationality living abroad. The lecture will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Matjaž Tratnik, Professor of International, European, and Comparative Law at the University of Maribor (Slovenia). Prof. Tratnik is a leading expert in nationality law and a co-author of Dutch nationality legislation.
The lecture, titled “Loss of Dutch nationality due to long-term residence abroad after Tjebbes”, will be held at the Maria Convent Aula of the University of Aruba, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Admission is free, but registration is required due to limited seating. Interested participants can register via:
www.bit.ly/leyhul
