Indian Migrants in the Netherlands: A Growing Trend of Long-Term Residency

Indian migrants are increasingly choosing to stay in the Netherlands for extended periods, with a significant number remaining in the country even after four years of residency.

Data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reveals that more than 56% of Indian nationals who arrived in the Netherlands in 2019 were still living there four years later. This marks a notable increase compared to 2011, when only 33% of Indian migrants stayed in the country for the same duration. This upward trend highlights the growing preference among Indian migrants to settle in the Netherlands long-term.

Primary Reasons for Migration: Work and Family

Indian migrants primarily move to the Netherlands for work, family reunification, or to start a family. In 2023, family-related reasons accounted for 45% of Indian migrations, while 40% cited work as their main motivation. Another 15% moved to the Netherlands for educational purposes.

Interestingly, a decade earlier in 2013, work was the dominant reason for migration, with 49% of Indian migrants moving for employment compared to 37% for family reasons.

Popular Destinations for Indian Residents

Amstelveen is the most favored municipality among Indian residents, home to 68,000 Indians—equivalent to 6,000 Indian residents per 1,000 inhabitants. Other popular areas include Uithoorn (50 per 1,000 residents), Eindhoven (35 per 1,000 residents), and Almere (31 per 1,000 residents).

In contrast, provinces like Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, Zeeland, and Limburg have fewer Indian residents.

Surge in Indian Migration Since 2022

Indian migration to the Netherlands has seen a dramatic rise in recent years. Before 2005, fewer than 1,000 Indians migrated to the Netherlands annually. However, from 2005 to 2020, the numbers surged, only to be temporarily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The highest number of Indian migrants was recorded in 2022, with net migration reaching nearly 11,000. Although migration numbers dipped slightly in the following years, the Indian population in the Netherlands still grew by 4,000 in 2024, with 9,392 immigrants and 5,411 emigrants.

Netherlands’ Plans to Reduce Labour Migration

The Dutch government has announced plans to curb labour migration, which could impact millions of foreign nationals, including Indians. Despite this, the trend of Indian migrants settling in the Netherlands for the long term remains strong.

Key Highlights

• Over 56% of Indian migrants who arrived in 2019 are still residing in the Netherlands.
• Family-related reasons are now the primary motivation for Indian migration.
• Indian migration peaked in 2022, with over 9,000 Indians moving to the Netherlands in 2024.

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