On 2 June 2009 Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations Guusje Ter Horst gave the kick-off for a broad discussion on responsible citizenship through the  publication 'Responsible Citizenship: A Matter of Give and Take'. With the presentation of this publication, she launched the online contribution of each citizen to the creation of a Charter of Responsible Citizenship.

According to the government, respect, involvement, focus on the future and commitment to the society are the four most important elements of citizenship. In this light, the Minister has symbolically presented the publication to representatives of business and political organizations.

In her speech the Minister stressed that the Dutch society has become more complex and diverse during the last few decades and rules and laws fail to serve it in the right way and thus be respected. She added that there is a larger variety of external influences, new forms of cohesion and other lifestyles and that the government had the responsibility of ensuring social cohesion. In a letter to the Second Chamber, the Minister also outlined her plans to draft a Charter regarding Responsible Citizenship.

Since 2 June 2009 the website https://www.handvestburgerschap.nl/ is online with discussions on the subject. The outcomes of the discussions will eventually be grouped together, analysed and published as a Charter on Responsible Citizenship; thus representing the common idea of what a responsible citizenship should be. Furthermore, the Ministry organizes conferences between June and October, in all parts of the country. Information on the place and time of these events is available on the website.

Further information:

• Official Press Release - Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations official website (in Dutch)
• Charter of Citizenship website (in Dutch)