Asylum seekers 'drain money from Dutch state for generations'

A study by IZA reveals that asylum seekers in the Netherlands impose a long-term financial burden on the state. The report highlights that asylum seekers and family migrants contribute negatively to taxes and social security, costing an estimated €400,000 over their lifetimes. In contrast, economic migrants contribute positively, especially if arriving before age 60.

The authors argue, “the adage ‘it will all work out with the second generation’ does not hold true,” as the children of asylum seekers often also become a financial drain. Western migrants showed a positive contribution of €900 million in 2016, while non-Western migrants cost taxpayers significantly more.

The negative contribution is especially large for asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East,” say authors Jan van de Beek, Joop Hartog, Gerrit Kreffer and Hans Roodenburg.

To curb migration, the Dutch government aims to limit the population to 20 million by 2050, planning stricter asylum policies.