Invitation conference, 12 October 2026: ‘Early integration of applicants for international protection: European and Dutch experiences in promoting employment, language learning and cultural orientation’

Join us for the annual national conference of EMN Netherlands, taking place this year on 12 October in The Hague. Dutch and European experts will share experiences and explore possibilities for the early integration of applicants for international protection by promoting employment, language learning and cultural orientation.

Date – 12 October 2026, 11.00-18.00 (including lunch, drinks)
Location – Sociëteit De Witte, Plein 24, Den Haag
Organisation - EMN Netherlands
Language - English
Registration link - Please register here

As the European network providing reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum in the EU, we are looking forward to sharing insights into our research on early integration of applicants for international protection (published in July). The full programme is now available. Please note that seats are limited, so be sure to register on time.

What to expect: conference highlights

• Rhodia Maas, the Director-General of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), will open the conference. Arjan van Noort, the Director of Society and Integration at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment will give a keynote address, presenting the policy ambitions of the Dutch government on early integration of applicants for international protection.
• EMN Netherlands will present the results of the EMN study ‘Early integration of applicants for international protection’, with a comparative analysis of early integration policies in all participating EMN Member and Observer Countries.
• Policy experts from Austria, Germany and Spain will present selected case studies of their national early integration policies.
• In an on-stage interview a beneficiary of international protection will share personal experiences with early integration.
• In a panel discussion an employer (Synergie Netherlands), the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and the municipality of Rotterdam will discuss the good practices and challenges they encounter in their work, with the Dutch knowledge institute Movisie providing scientific insights.