THE HAGUE - Nearly 6,000 individuals without residency rights left the Netherlands in 2024, according to figures released by Dienst Terugkeer en Vertrek (DTenV). This marked a 4 percent increase compared to the previous year, continuing a four-year trend of rising departures. 

A total of 5,990 people were confirmed to have left the country, with 54 percent departing voluntarily and 46 perent through forced removals. In 2023, the total was 5,780. DTenV emphasized that its primary goal is to encourage voluntary departures, though forced removals are implemented when necessary in collaboration with the Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen (DJI), Koninklijke Marechaussee, police, and destination countries. 

Of the total departures in 2024, 3,710 individuals returned to their countries of origin, while 1,740 were transferred to other European countries under the Dublin Regulation. An additional 540 people moved to other destinations. 

Priority was given to the removal of individuals convicted of criminal offenses. Among those eligible for deportation immediately after serving their sentences, 960 out of 1,220 cases (nearly 80 percent) were successfully processed in 2024. 

Notable increases were observed in the number of people returning to Algeria and Poland. In 2024, 210 individuals returned to Algeria, compared to just 40 in 2023. The number of returns to Morocco, however, decreased slightly, with 250 in 2024 compared to 270 the year before. Strong diplomatic ties between the Netherlands and these countries were cited as contributing factors. 

In total, 460 Algerian nationals and 430 Moroccan nationals left the Netherlands. Additionally, 360 Polish nationals, many of whom were reportedly causing disturbances, were forcibly removed. 

DTenV expanded its capacity in 2024, enabling more individuals who obstructed their departure to be detained and forcibly removed. This led to a rise in forced removals, from 2,370 in 2023 to 2,750 in 2024. Forced removals accounted for 46 percent of all confirmed departures. 

Meanwhile, 3,240 individuals left the country voluntarily, facilitated by DTenV programs. 

In addition to the confirmed cases, a significant number of individuals exited the Netherlands without government oversight. DTenV reported that 5,740 people from its caseload disappeared from government monitoring in 2024, with no information on their destinations.