Short-sighted policy on limiting open migration threatens Dutch innovation – and the country’s economic prosperity

By Bart Brouwers

In an era when global competition for skilled talent is peaking, the Netherlands faces a paradoxical and potentially self-destructive policy shift. Following the Nov. 22 elections, the noise calling for a drastic reduction in the number of asylum seekers and migrants has increased. So much so that this issue could be made policy in a new cabinet.

While to many – for example, the supporters of NSC and PVV – this may seem like a move to protect national interests, the result is exactly the opposite, and the implications of such a policy are deeply troubling.

The current push in parliament to restrict immigration is an outright attack on the “knowledge worker regime” and thus strikes at the heart of the Dutch strategic, industrial, and self-sufficient economy. Knowledge migrants, even those from outside the EU, are key players in sectors such as high-tech and manufacturing. By considering a reduction of these essential forces, the Netherlands risks stifling its innovative spirit and eroding its industrial strength.

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Cynical outcome

The implications of such a policy are not only theoretical but have real consequences. Take, for example, ASML, the flagship of Dutch technological strength and a world leader in the semiconductor industry. Because of its ties to the supply chain in and around the Netherlands, that company won’t be able to choose a new location just like that. Still, a curtailment of its ability to hire talent from outside the EU is an argument for not necessarily looking only within the Netherlands for the next new expansion. For the company itself, it would be mostly an awkward hassle but surmountable. Nor will it be dramatic on a global scale. But the real paradox lies at the national level: the Dutch economy – both for GDP and our global competitiveness – would take a gigantic hit. It’s no less than a cynical outcome for the movements that claim that closed borders are necessary for national prosperity.

Hasty and populist

Migration restriction is a hasty and populist wish devoid of foresight and understanding of the global economic landscape. It reflects a worrying trend of prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term economic stability and growth. The knowledge worker scheme has been crucial for the Netherlands to attract and retain the best global talent, stimulating innovation and contributing significantly to the nation’s economic health. Restricting this flow of expertise means cutting off the lifeblood of the Dutch innovation ecosystem.

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National Security

There is more that is not right about this desire, which some even link to a plea to leave the EU altogether for convenience. Pursuing such a policy direction isolates the Netherlands within the EU framework but also sends a troubling signal to the international community about our commitment to openness and cooperation. And this also immediately makes it clear that restricting knowledge migrants is not just a migration issue; it is an issue of national security and global competitiveness.

Let us do all we can to impress upon the parties that will begin their negotiations in the coming period the implications of their short-sighted desires. The world is changing on all fronts; this is a time for reflection and strategic thinking, not for hasty decisions that could undo decades of progress and prosperity. The future of Dutch innovation and industrial strength depends on the choices made in the coming weeks (months?).