Migration and the Dutch welfare state
Why do migrants choose the Netherlands? It's often thought that it is because of the high quality of the welfare state, but according to Groningen professor Helga de Valk, that’s a misconception. If it were true, then the Scandinavian countries would be the most popular, and migrants would never want to move on. The data does not support this scenario.
De Valk: 'Large-scale European research has revealed that it is important to look at the life course. The life course reveals at what point in a person’s life they choose to migrate, and what the most important factors in that person’s life are at that moment. Young people from other European member states, for example, come to the Netherlands to study or to work. That means that they are not really concerned with welfare state arrangements such as childcare or pensions. In fact, people don’t know very much about them.'
Prof.Helga de Valk also works for the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI).
More information

University of Groningen videos
The weekly online video magazine Unifocus highlights topics related to the University of Groningen in the fields of research and society, student life, teaching, policy and internationalization.
You can find more videos in our video portal.
Last modified: | 28 September 2021 2.32 p.m. |
More news
-
08 May 2025
KNAW appoints three professors of UG/UMCG as new members
Professors Jingyuan Fu, Lisa Herzog, and Helga de Valk of the UG have been appointed members by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
-
14 April 2025
12 Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Networks for the University of Groningen
The University of Groningen has achieved very good results in the last round of Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Networks.
-
11 March 2025
East Groningen: universal basic services must be up to standard
Sjierdan Koster makes the case for long-term thinking and for bringing Groningen’s universal basic services up to standard.