Marriage migration in the Netherlands

Original title: Huwelijksmigratie in Nederland When a man or woman living in the Netherlands embarks on a relationship with a partner from another country and the couple decide to build a married life together in the Netherlands, we call this marriage migration. The foreign partner who moves to the Netherlands for a lasting relationship is then known as marriage migrant. In this publication we present a statistical picture of marriage migrants, but above all we allow them and their partners to describe their own situation. SCP conducted interviews and discussions with focus groups consisting of marriage migrants and their partners from varying countries of origin. This report describes their immediate experiences. It covers the motives of people who choose a partner from across the border, their motives for migrating to the Netherlands, their experiences with the migration procedure, starting a family, looking for work and building a life in the Netherlands. It also devotes attention to the potential darker sides: the increased risk of domestic and honour-based violence, abandonment and marital captivity. Leen Sterckxis a sociologist attached to the Education, Minorities and Methodology research group at SCP. Her expertise lies in qualitative research on the partner selection, family formation and mixed marriages of migrants and their descendants.Jaco Dagevosis head of the Education, Minorities and Methodology research group at SCP. Willem Huijnk is a quantitative researcher in the Education, Minorities and Methodology research group. His research interests focus on the integration of different migrant groups. Jantine van Lisdonk is also a researcher in the Education, Minorities and Methodology research group. She specialises in qualitative research on sexual and ethnic minorities.