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LOCAL Wednesday 17 august 2022

Better transition for Aruba students moving to the Netherlands

Oranjestad - The Ministry of Educa- find a place but decline because lands, Alexandra van Huffelen to
tion and the Arubahuis will tackle the room is too small or because grant Aruba students their citizen
the housing issue for students going they want something more com- service number (BSN) before they
to the Netherlands next year. fortable. Therefore they need to arrive in the Netherlands. Having
start looking for housing all over a BSN number in advance allows
There is currently a long waiting again. It is important to state that the students to make the required
time for student housing in the no student was left homeless. arrangements in time, including
Netherlands. Lack of housing is a housing since it can take between
problem for foreign and local stu- Some students opted to travel to 3 to 4 weeks.
dents in the Netherlands. the Netherlands without having a
This housing problem is so big that permanent place to stay but did least 1 year ahead of the scholar However, it depends on the Dutch
some Dutch universities advised not want to miss this scholar year. year. It will increase their chance government, since giving a BSN
students who did not find a place It is essential to have an address in of getting an apartment or room in number in advance is quite signifi-
yet, to postpone their travel to the the Netherlands to register in the time. The Arubahuis is currently not cant. The Prime Minister of Aruba
Netherlands this year. According to civil registry since the Netherlands attending with housing for students mentioned that they are discuss-
the Prime Minister, this year, about has strict rules. ‘As long as you do but will include housing information ing this with the Dutch leaders and
40 Aruba students had no perma- not have a home address to reg- on their website and provide guid- hope to achieve this eventually.
nent place to stay before traveling ister, you will not be able to open ance for upcoming students.
to the Netherlands but have found a bank account and can not sign The current housing situation in the
temporary housing as of Septem- any agreement for internet or cell- The government of Aruba is reor- Netherlands requires a more active
ber 1, 2022. phone service, etc. ganizing the Arubahuis, and with role of the Arubahuis to assist Aru-
this reorganization, they want to ban students, but this can change
These students stay with family The role of Arubahuis with regards change the role of the Arubahuis in the upcoming years. The Aruba-
members, friends, or in student ho- to housing to meet citizens' demands. It in- huis can adjust its task according
tels temporarily. There are student The Ministry of Education and the cludes a better transition for Aruba to the situation. For now, it requires
hotels in various cities, but they are Arubahuis will prepare students bet- students arriving in the Netherlands a more active role, and the Aruba-
more expensive. Some students ter for the housing issue next year. for their higher education. The huis are addressing this issue to ac-
In some cities in the Netherlands, Government is also working with commodate the demand.q
students can apply for housing at the State Secretary of the Nether-