The latest figures on migration to and from the Netherlands by Antilleans and Arubans (see related article) confirm what was already becoming increasingly clear. The exodus of primarily – often unprepared – youth from particularly Curaçao to the European part of the Dutch Kingdom that led to problems in large cities has long since ended.

Hopefully, the Dutch politicians who have continued to insist over the years on an admittance regulation for people from the islands will take note that the argument of an influx of youngsters with few prospects is outdated at best. Also because the Dutch Caribbean is now doing relatively well, economically speaking, fewer and fewer people on the islands are forced to seek a better life elsewhere.

The idea to send Antilleans and Arubans convicted of crimes in Europe back to the islands does not make much sense either. Most of especially the youngsters of Caribbean origin still causing problems nowadays were born in the Netherlands and in many cases have never lived anywhere else.

Not that this reality and the latest migration figures within the Kingdom will end the calls for admittance restrictions in The Hague by any means. Thinking so would be naïve, certainly with the prospect of a right-wing VVD/CDA cabinet also supported by the anti-immigration party PVV.

Nevertheless, one has to consider that the movement of people back and forth has been balanced for the last 2½ years, while before that – with the exception of 2007 – more persons actually went from the Netherlands to the Dutch Caribbean than the other way around every year since 2003. These figures should at least support the islands in their opposition to any admittance regulation.

As stated before, however, the best strategy in this case would be reciprocity, by removing the last remaining restrictions on Dutch Europeans who want to establish themselves on the islands. After all, fear of their coming in great numbers to take local jobs away, etc., is unrealistic considering the generally much higher wages and better social benefits over there, while such a step would at the same time give more content to the choice to remain together in the Dutch Kingdom.