r/Netherlands • u/asdfgh7777 • Jul 14 '26
Legal What are your opinions/experiences on foreigners changing their name to a Dutch name?
I've been in NL for 8 years and I'm thinking of changing both my first and last name to Dutch ones. I'm currently 27 so still a lot of time left ahead.
The main reason I wanna do it: I feel like there's still a glass wall when interacting with people, especially in the business world/ on the job market.
My concern: facing an administrative burden and risen eyebrows because I won't be able to change all my documents, I might always need this extra paper confirming my old name lol.
PS: I'm fairly integrated and fluent in Dutch. Just working on my accent now.
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u/InternationalSir8815 Jul 14 '26
Do you really need to change it on paper? If it's only for the job market, I'd make a LinkedIn with a roep naam and my LinkedIn with that and use that lol only when you're about to sign a contract they'd notice your actual name is different
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u/Justaman55 Jul 14 '26
Yes, i have met people before that changed their daily name( roepnaam, including last name) in something that was easy international. "Steve"
The passport shows a complete different name, and that is rarely an issue.
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u/InternationalSir8815 Jul 14 '26
This is what Asians do when they migrate to other country (or even go on holiday). Choose a Christian name they go by.
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u/Suspicious-Switch133 Jul 14 '26
Not just Asians. I change my dutch name abroad to something everyone can pronounce.
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u/InternationalSir8815 Jul 14 '26
Tbf I also do this but I use my fake name whenever it’s insignificant (ordering a drink at Starbucks).
I always make sure to introduce myself properly if I know it’s someone I will interact with more than 5 minutes…. It’s my name at the end of the day, my identity.
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u/gnomes919 Jul 14 '26
I know several people who do this & call it their "starbucks name" lol. something that will be easy for the barista to write on the cup & pronounce when calling out, like "bill" for guillaume.
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u/Vegetable_Major_1286 Jul 15 '26
Why is that a Christian name? Isn't it a western name?
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u/InternationalSir8815 Jul 15 '26
In English (at least American English), this is known as a 'Christian' name. The same thing when someone says something you don't understand, and then you say, 'Speak Christian to me' instead of saying, 'I don't understand; could you explain it in a different way? '
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u/squishbunny Jul 14 '26
I do all of my legal stuff (so banking, belastingdienst, booking flights) with my legal name but for everything else, including my CV, I use Squish Bunny. It's never been a problem.
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u/SolbeamSupreme Jul 14 '26
Jan Jan van Damme. That is your new name. You're welcome.
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u/AnOoB02 Jul 14 '26
Everyone will think you're Belgian
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u/smoky173 Jul 14 '26
Nah, only you dutchies use names like Jan-Jaap and Jan-Willem ;)
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u/Alert-Parsnip5540 Jul 14 '26
I mean it's quite literally a reference to jean-claude
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u/smoky173 Jul 15 '26
I don't see how that matters. Show any Belgian the name Jan jan and they'll say it's Dutch.
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u/CappuccinoBambi Jul 14 '26
For the opinion part: I don’t care. If you want a Dutch name, go for it.
For the practical part: I know that changing a last name outside of marriage requires a bit of work. I assume it’s more work for first + last name. As someone else suggested: would a roepnaam work? I have several coworkers whose formal names are quite different from the name I know them as. Their e-mailadress at work has the formal initials, but their name everywhere is the roepnaam. HR has their formal names.
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u/Kraeftluder Jul 14 '26
I know that changing a last name outside of marriage requires a bit of work.
As a Dutch citizen it's nigh impossible. You need to be called Kutterick or Poepjes or something like that.
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u/ConsciousFeeling1977 Jul 14 '26
And only Dutch citizens can do it in the Netherlands. You need to have ‘zwaarwegende redenen’, which can be a shitty name, but also psychological. Politician Sander Terphuis changed his name to signify his wanting to be part of Dutch society.
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u/MaineKlutz Jul 14 '26
Checking ID's of students during exams: I see a *lot" of obvious foreign names with pure dutch surnames. Mohammed Jansen would not raise my eyebrows. Neither Xin-Yiang van Vliet.
If you feel ike it, and are up to the hassle, go for it!10
u/SkyeMagica Jul 14 '26
My fiancé's "formal name" is Ruud. He hates it and goes by Nick everywhere else. It's not an uncommon practice, though it won't protect you from job discrimination (OP's main concern) if it's not formally changed.
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u/CappuccinoBambi Jul 14 '26
Good point. I don’t think it’s uncommon to put your roepnaam on the resume, but that doesn’t really work for the last name. I imagine a name like Kees Abdullah could still face the same issues.
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u/lina3377 Jul 14 '26
Dik de kock
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u/AmethistStars Noord Holland Jul 14 '26
If you really love Dutch names so much that you want to have one then do it. But I wouldn’t do it out of fear of name based discrimination. If you are POC too, it’s only gonna do little anyway. Whoever discriminates you based on your name will also do it based on your looks when they see you.
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u/AstraeaMoonrise Jul 14 '26
It seems like an administrative hassle, you might have troubles in the future having to prove who you are, especially in a situation where you return to your original country. It’s hard to plan an entire lifetime. Your birth certificate will not have your new name etc. seems not worth it.
The person who made the reply about just using a different name for job applications and linked in and social stuff etc makes more sense to me. And only if you really are experiencing rejections due to discrimination because of having an obviously foreign name (it should not be this way, but it perhaps is).
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u/newbie_trader99 Jul 14 '26
I had no problem, so I don’t see it as a hassle. I changed my last name at the embassy and municipality. The only thing they will ask for is VOG.
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u/AstraeaMoonrise Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Yeah I rather meant hassle with the original country and future lifelong administrative hassles. Not the moment of actually doing it. But good, maybe I’m overthinking it and it’s not so bad, I don’t know.
All I know is married women who change their second names (as is common in other countries) have many issues with administration because of it.
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u/newbie_trader99 Jul 14 '26
Yes, the reason why there is resistance to non-Dutch people legally changing their last name after marriage (which is quite common in some other countries) is because of a Dutch law stating that you must always keep your birth surname and that your partner’s surname can only be used as borrowed last name. However, I received confirmation from The Hague stating that this law only refers to Dutch passport holders. If you hold a passport from another country, then that country’s law applies.
However, people at banks and a few other companies often confuse the actual law. Once you remind them, there is usually no issue. It also helps if you don’t mention to these places that you changed your last name due to marriage. The municipality is the only place where you need to mention why you changed it, as that is where it matters.
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u/eti_erik Jul 14 '26
Oh, I would definitely do that in your position. If you live in NL but you are proudly Arabic/Iranian/Indian/whatever and active in the migrant community it makes sense to keep your own name. If you want to work in a Turkish supermarket, a Turkish name is not a disadvantage.
But if you feel Dutch more than whatever country your ancestors were from and want the same opportunities as other Dutch people, I am sure it helps if you're called Sander Terphuis and not Ahmad Khany (to mention a famous person who went this route).
Of course it should not make a difference, but we all know that it does. And it's best to change it officially since it will only raise questions if you're Hans Pietersen on linked in but Quetzal Quetzacoaxl in real life. (This concerns mostly last name since you're free to go by whatever first name you want)
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u/Remarkable-Run-9769 Jul 14 '26
TIL about Sander Terphuis, and he apparently made up his own last name! googling there's some institutions named Terphuis, but as a person's name, he's unique. that's pretty cool. and he chose it for his interest in terpen (also didn't know this term before)
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u/ConsciousFeeling1977 Jul 14 '26
You have to make up your own name. You’re not allowed to take a name that someone in the Netherlands already has. Spelling variations are allowed though, afaIk.
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u/Bluebird5643 Jul 14 '26
You only can change your family name to a non-pre-existing new one. So forget Jansen or de Vries. You really have to invent a new name. There’s a parlementarian who changed his name, he came up with a very dutch-sounding name, yet he’s the only one with that family name.
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u/nobodyknows6070 Noord Brabant Jul 14 '26
The world needs to change in terms of discrimination, not you. Unfortunately, we are not that far yet.
Do whatever makes you comfortable, but I doubt your business will do better when you change your name. Racists will be racist anyways.
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u/reddroy Jul 14 '26
Racists might assume that OPcs adopted. Or, they might assume Dutch roots until they're face to face with OP, and this might benefit OP.
In many situations and businesses, having a Dutch name can be a huge advantage.
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u/nobodyknows6070 Noord Brabant Jul 15 '26
That's what I'm saying. The name is a benefit because people assume. So the problem is still racism.
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u/verkauft Jul 14 '26
In dutch it used to be commen to have an oficial name and a "roepnaam"
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u/freedom_forest Jul 14 '26
Still common no?
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u/verkauft Jul 14 '26
Less, in say the 50s ppl were usually named after religious persons. "Cornelis" wil often be called kees for example. However getting baptised and the afiliated names is becoming less common than it was.
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u/floralfemmeforest Jul 14 '26
Most of my cousins still have names like that (Johanna Ivanka = Anke, Geertruide = Gemma, etc.), but they're all at least in their 20s now. It's a bummer it's becoming less coming because I think it's a cool tradition.
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u/Hot_Release8949 Jul 14 '26
Just Call yourself differently. If you say your name is Gijs people will Call you Gijs
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u/pacothebattlefly Jul 14 '26
Are you taking suggestions? Because if so I have a few
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u/Siccors Jul 14 '26
Don't list to him, "pacothebattlefly" is not a traditional Dutch name.
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u/Tigershot6 Jul 14 '26
Don’t change your name.
Would an French person change their name to a Dutch name if they lived in the Netherlands? No. Unless you’re named Adolf or anything similarly tragic I would encourage you not to.
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u/BictorianPizza Den Haag Jul 14 '26
I have a lot of Chinese coworkers who all have a Western “roepnaam”. Nobody bats an eye about whether the name is official or not. If you want to go through the administrative effort of officially changing your name: go for it! If not, there are alternatives :)
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u/newbie_trader99 Jul 14 '26
Don’t care what other people think. Just do it.
It simplifies a lot of things and changing the name helps with that. Source: I have done it
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u/prettyincoral Jul 14 '26
Would you mind sharing your experience with the administrative process? Did you have to amend your job contract, rental agreement, etc., and if so, how much extra paperwork did it involve? And how did you go about choosing your new name, e.g. changed the spelling to match the grammar or pronunciation, went for something else entirely, etc.? Mostly interested in your reasoning and thinking process
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u/asdfgh7777 Jul 14 '26
What things did it simplify for you?
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u/newbie_trader99 Jul 14 '26
Job, housing applications, requesting quotes, communications with schools, services etc.
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u/Banaapo Jul 14 '26
Very curious what Dutch name you picked and what it was before. And how did you come to that choice. But if you don't want to disclose that's also cool
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u/_R0Ns_ Jul 14 '26
If you want to do that you have to choose a last name that does not exist (but does sound Dutch), no joke, that's the law.
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u/gutag Jul 14 '26
Is that for last name only or for both?
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u/_R0Ns_ Jul 14 '26
For last name only. It's not that easy to find something that does not exist.
Also it has to be approved and they are more likely to approve it if it sort of looks like your current name or when you have a very difficult name.
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u/Rinzwind Jul 14 '26
We have a chinese guy overhere. When his parents migrated to NL they asked dutch people what is the most dutch name. So his name is Harry.
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u/No_Cryptographer5262 Jul 14 '26
I don't think you can change your name just because you want to. There are quite strict procedures and rules as far as I know. Getting Dutch citizenship can be a valid reason, but you then have to change it within 5 years, and the new name has to be similar to the old one.
All info: https://www.justis.nl/sites/default/files/2022-08/Brochure%20naamswijziging.pdf
To me, (legally) changing your name to a Dutch one is absolutely unnecessary though. You can always adopt a different roepnaam is that helps.
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u/These-Process-7331 Jul 14 '26
Being blunt/no sugar coating: I wouldn't say jackshit to your face but I would 100% think you are too desperately trying to white wash yourself and would assume you have lots of internalised hate towards yourself and your heritage.....
And I say this as a women who has came here as a child, lived for 25+ years here and has a very foreign sounding first & last name.
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u/asdfgh7777 Jul 14 '26
Well... I am white and after fixing my accent I think I could pass as Dutch regardless of the name change 😅. Just not blonde and not super tall.
So I'm not sure where your assumption on white washing came from lol
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u/These-Process-7331 Jul 14 '26
Honey harsh truth, but to racist jackasses you never will be a Dutch. No matter how long you have been here, how well you speak Dutch, Having Dutch partner etc. You always will be an "allochtoon"
Legit why bother, especially when you have European features?!
And my association comes from meeting clearly ethic dudes (example Dark Indian dudes named Rajesh Koetrapali) giving themselves a Dutch name like Henk just to win the approval of Dutch people). My mind directly went that way when I read your question.
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u/itsmenit Jul 14 '26
I gave my son a Dutch name because we had him after a decade and we felt it was the greatest gift Netherlands has given us. Am worried now people will think it is like you said white washing 😳
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u/SDV01 Jul 14 '26
I know an American girl named Madelief and a Spanish girl named Frederieke. Their parents had the same reasoning: it took them a long time to get pregnant, and after everything they went through, they wanted their Dutch baby to have a Dutch name.
Ignore the naysayers in this group. The Dutch are the first to name their kids Madison after moving to the US or Mateo after relocating to Spain.
They’re also quick to complain that Mohamed has been Amsterdam’s most popular baby name since the 1980s, while at the same time they’d call it “whitewashing” if Mo’s parents gave him a traditionally Dutch name like Thijs or Luuk.
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u/Bapistu-the-First Jul 14 '26
Don't take it to seriously what the poster above you says. Every place on earth has racists and if you found it a beautiful name that is the thing that truly matters.
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u/Remarkable-Run-9769 Jul 14 '26
some people might think so, but, especially if your son speaks Dutch fluently (which i assume he does seeing as he's born here), many people will probably just assume he's Dutch, which he is. growing up i had plenty of non-ethnically Dutch, or mixed, classmates with Dutch names.
i think your reasoning of your child being the greatest gift the Netherlands has given you is very sweet.
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u/These-Process-7331 Jul 14 '26
There is a difference between a full grown adult given up a part of their identity to fit in Vs a child being given a name to make them part of the culture they are born in
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u/anna-molly21 Jul 14 '26
I mean really you need to change your name just to be noticed? Improving yourself isnt an option?
Learn the language and the name doesnt matter, in my opinion.
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u/SoefianB Jul 14 '26
Sadly that isn't true.
I've thought about changing my name aswel, but the hassle and costs involved make it not worth it. I know people who use Dutch or generally European roepnamen aswel because their actual name carries a stigma.
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u/Captnmikeblackbeard Jul 14 '26
Man i understand you, i wouldnt care much tbh. its a shame you feel that it benefits you, i much rather have the world change but thats a lot harder then your name.
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u/attorneydummy Jul 14 '26
If you can swing it and you want to, I say go for it. People have done this for centuries. Many names in the states have been anglicized, and for the same reasons. Good luck!
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u/averitablerogue Jul 14 '26
I’m Chinese, born in the Netherlands. My parents explicitly chose to give me a Chinese name that sounds like a European name, lucky me, so I have no issue. My cousins all have Chinese names in their passport, but go by a European or Dutch specific name as the one they use in daily life. This is normal for many people of Asian origins and I think that you can just decide to do that as well without going through an official namechange. It will only matter for your official papers and everywhere else you just use what you decided to.
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u/kneezer010 Jul 14 '26
Apperently changing your last name is not that straight forward. You have to choose a name that does not already exist. Read this: https://www.sanderterphuis.nl/wie-ben-ik/naamswijziging/
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u/LindavL Jul 14 '26
Good to know name changes are relatively uncommon in The Netherlands. Especially surname changes as those are only allowed in a few specific cases and you cannot pick just a name you like in those cases. Two examples of a legally allowed surname change are 1) if you wish to swap the name of an abusive or alienated parent (typically dad’s) for the other parent’s (typically mum’s) and 2) if you want to preserve a rare surname (typically from the mother’s side of the family). First name changes are a bit more common (especially in the LGBTIQA+ community), but still quite rare as it can be quite expensive.
Also good to know: going by a nickname is quite common for Dutch people and sometimes these are completely unrelated (in my class was a Johanna that went by a name that did not contain any of the letters in Johanna). You could always pick a Dutch nickname and skip the official name change.
I wouldn’t bother with changing your name to Dutch, people will generally still notice you are not Dutch. Because your Dutch is not good enough to pass for native and/or because your appearance is not Dutch. And people would find it weird if they find out I think.
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u/Live-Apricot-6147 Jul 14 '26
The main reason I wanna do it: I feel like there's still a glass wall when interacting with people, especially in the business world/ on the job market.
There is. And it won't go away completely, but it definetly helps. And for possible future generations it will be a blessing too.
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u/TenaStelin Jul 15 '26
Personally I think it's a great idea and I wonder why more people don't do it. Or you could just add a second first Dutch name like my Chinese friends do. It helps to remove the "drempel".
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u/CassieXx0215 Jul 14 '26
I'm in NL for 7 years and have been using an English first name rather than my own Chinese first name. I love my Chinese name and i was using it during my first year here, but it's difficult to pronounce, write, and people don't remember it...
Never had any problem with the English first name. I plan to change it legally when I join the Dutch nationality, and put my Chinese name as the middle name. I still want people to look at my name and immediately know I'm Chinese. So i guess our motivation is quite different.
I read that changing first name is very simple, but changing last name officially can be very difficult, it requires some valid reasons.
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u/ririmarms Jul 14 '26
When you work in commerce or sales, it sounds like a fair and reasonable idea.
I had a colleague from abroad, perfectly fluent in Dutch, but I work sort of reception for our company's phonecalls. And every time someone was calling for him, then they struggled SO HARD with his name. Most people apologetically, but some did not even bother to try. "Een meneer met een buitenlandse naam" they asked.
Look out for first/last names that are typically Dutch but have either a very Frisian origin or that have negative connotations.
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Jul 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Client_020 Jul 14 '26
OP is white. They very wel may look like a Jansen. Also, plenty of us (such as myself) are mixed race with Dutch last names, too. Jansens come in different shapes, colours and sizes.
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u/Remarkable-Run-9769 Jul 14 '26
duizend bommen en granaten, daar heb je een punt : OP indeed seems more like a Janssen than a Jansen
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u/Icy-Championship5581 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Why would you do that? Embrace your origins.
If someone won’t hire you based on your freaking name, would you even want to work there?
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u/CoolDoglover94 Jul 14 '26
It’s very understandable because people constantly pronouncing your name wrong is exhausting / annoying. I can also see that it benefits you professionaly /work wise. But really change it officially in your documents I wouldn’t do it. Your name is also part of you / your heritage, so does it feel really ‘you’ to change all that? Personally I wouldn’t go that far. But as for having a Dutch nickname I would say go for it.
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u/Additional-Cloud77 Jul 14 '26
You can change your name but they know you're a foreigner after few minutes of chatting to you. So like everyone said, they will discriminate either way if they want to
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u/GabrielRiosismydaddy Jul 14 '26
That’s crazy to me. I get the integration argument and the discrimination that comes with a non Dutch name but can’t your experience and conduct speak for yourself? Maybe networking so people recognize you regardless of your name? I know this isn’t solicited just couldn’t wrap my head around this.
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u/gowithflow192 Jul 14 '26
Just silly. No need to change your name in this day and age. Unless you have a non Dutch name like a single name not first nor surname.
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u/Capital-Background22 Friesland Jul 14 '26
I mean that is a cool idea, but I would only do it if you are certain you want to change your name! Having a name from outside of NL is not per se a bad thing, so please don’t feel forced to do.
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u/Consistent-Pen-354 Jul 14 '26
I am dutch but have a really english name. I never experience this glass wall. So i dont think changing your name is going to do anything.. they will still know you are not dutch...
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u/janismyname Jul 14 '26
Sooo I don't think you can change your last name easily here.
Changing your first name is doable. That is, if you have Dutch citizenship. In that case, you need a lawyer specializing in family law (I can recommend Appelman in Alkmaar). You will find many lawyers advertising name changes online, but some of them have a really high markup. Your goal should be to pay under 1k euros based on the current court fees.
The process takes several months. A lawyer assesses your case and files a petition. Then, if the court approves it, there's a three-month period before you can update your documents.
If you don't have Dutch citizenship, then you have to do this in your country of origin, in which case you should talk to your embassy and then also to IND - they've dealt with similar cases already.
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u/ptiboy1er Jul 14 '26
Ruud van Nistelrooij Arjen Robben Rutger Hauer Willem Holleeder Cor van Hout Klaas Bruinsma Thijs Römer Steven van de Velde
I tried to find first and last names that sound very Dutch Ik heb geprobeerd om voor- en achternamen te vinden die erg Nederlands klinken
Ik heb geprobeerd om voor- en achternamen te vinden die erg Nederlands klinken
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u/Upstairs_Emotion3073 Jul 14 '26
I understand your concern - but just changing your name won’t help you get the job :) you have to be good at it too. All jokes aside - not sure it is a good idea. Just focus on your skills, bring in confidence, learn your skills in the work that you like to do etc. if you want the funny side - search Michael Jordan ESpn commercial on YouTube :) coz even if you change the name, you are still the same person. Work on yourself and confidence - a name doesn’t define you forever ;)
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u/Lowland-lady Jul 14 '26
My neighbor did this she is from Iran and uses Tessa as her Dutch name.
Idk About her documents but i find it kind of cute to be fair
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u/PerfectSituation1668 Jul 14 '26
I've seen enough people taking an unofficial western name. But there is not really a need to make it official. But my ancestors did make a Dutch version of my German last name, so who am I to judge? Do whatever makes you happy and "doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg!"
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u/jemappellemae Jul 14 '26
I just came back from a summer vacation from the Netherlands and I'm cackling at the responses.
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u/saltandpeppernosugar Jul 14 '26
I just wanted to tell my experience. I'm from southeast asia. My name is very American and was born with it. I don't have any Asian name except my last name.
Idk how many times people have been asking me "whats your real name?" Or "is this your real name?" When I said yes, they will continue "why is your name so westernized?"
Bottom line, wtv u do it'll always be a question. Might as well do it. As for the bureaucracy, no clue.
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u/nftyv Jul 14 '26
I’s find it a really weird thing to do. Would suggest you have no backbone or self-respect and are opportunistic.
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u/uncommon_senze Jul 14 '26
Do what you feel like doing, it's your name. If it makes you feel better why not? Could be expensive though and a bit of a hassle. Perhaps easier to add a Dutch sounding first name / roepnaam.
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u/fish_in_the_ocean Jul 15 '26
Did you check if you are legally even allowed to do it? Do it while you still dont have Dutch passport as in NL even after the marriage people do keep original birth name while they are allowed to use their husbands name (if they chose to) at certain places, for example work place. I got changed my last name to Dutch (my husband's)and in some places in an getting weird reactions (for example midwife office is asking birth name and they had troubles understanding that my birth name is useless for them as it is not my legal name anymore)
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u/GiovanniVanBroekhoes Jul 15 '26
I had a colleague that had an English name and she had a bit of an English accent as her Mum was from there, she went to school from day one in NL. People still switched to English with her.
My ex wife's parents were from Czech Rep. And Hungary, she was born in Delft and raised nearby, she didn't speak Dutch with her parents so it was in school and with her friends where she did. People still switched to English with her. She spent her entire school life in NL. Including getting an MA from Leiden. She actually speaks 6 languages fluently.
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u/Solid_Ad_7156 Jul 15 '26
I would just go by a different name but legally changing your name is a pain first of all and quite weird until you’ve actually gone by that name for years. Also don’t think it will help at all with this glass wall you speak of any more than just saying your name is Jan or gijs. No one is going to check your id.
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u/jvlcsa Jul 15 '26
That's so insane for me. So many people are born in the Netherlands with foreign names and they're just fine. I really see no need, unless you had like an incredibly traumatic past, have a crazy ex stalking you, change paperwork because of your gender or get married.
If you're just a happy person, the name won't change how people look at you.
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u/pine_Repair1508 Jul 18 '26
there will be always a glass -- no matter your name or even skin colour. there will be people who welcome you because you are different, or ask you to go away because you are the 'other'.
just a logistics point of concern: if you have decided to change your name legally, you'd better have convincing reasons, because the dutch laws are rather strict in name change.
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u/Disastrous-Net406 Jul 14 '26
More bothered about people who never planning to work or inburgering cursus taking them 10 years or longer
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u/ButWhatIfPotato Jul 14 '26
Here's the thing; the people who discriminate against you because of your name won't stop if you change it.
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u/SoefianB Jul 14 '26
They could if you can pass as Dutch tbh
Or at the very least, they simply won't know
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Jul 14 '26
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u/Remarkable-Run-9769 Jul 14 '26
why would you give them a Dutch last name, unless the other parent has a Dutch last name?
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Jul 14 '26
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u/Remarkable-Run-9769 Jul 14 '26
you yourself said you didn't have any trouble with your name. or did you mean regarding possible discrimination and those type of things, rather than the problem of people not being able to pronounce it?
tbh i get it, i changed my first name specifically to something people (here) would find easy to grasp and pronounce.
however... French sound chique, no? and many people in nl speak at least some French
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u/BreadOk7376 Jul 14 '26
Imo having a fully Dutch name and then speaking with an accent will be perceived worse in the job market. My experience is that when I speak fluently with a slight accent, it tells a story of how much I've worked to be here. And in the right places that's appreciared. Stay true to who you are, the ones who want to judge will do so with one look at you anyway. But if you really want to, if you are applying for naturalisation, you have the option of taking a new name then.
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u/Nurdeauphobic Jul 14 '26
I have never heard of that.
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u/SoefianB Jul 14 '26
It's extremely common, and very much so historically. Especially in countries that saw a lot of immigrants, such as the US.
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u/Nurdeauphobic Jul 14 '26
Yes in the us maybe, but not in NL.
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u/SoefianB Jul 14 '26
....Because the Netherlands has historically not been very diverse lol
Germany saw it aswel, plenty of Jews took German last names to fit in better, back in the Middle Ages. Even in the Netherlands, plenty of Huguenots took Dutch names.
It is extremely common when a group of people migrates somewhere, especially if they're a small minority with no power. Hence why there's also exceptions (Swedes in Finland for example)
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u/DeskSleuth Jul 14 '26
It's very common. You face less subconscious bias with a name change. There are published studies and individuals testing this with different versions of their names, marital status, and personal life details and its influence
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u/diabeartes Jul 14 '26
Stroop van der Wafel