By temporarily registering in Belgium or Germany, holders of a Dutch passport can circumvent strict Dutch rules regarding family reunification with a foreign partner. They invite their relatives to another European country and after some time come with them to the Netherlands. Thus, immigrants rely in their family reunification procedures on legislation that is less strict than in the Netherlands.
In 2005, 350 immigrants used this method; last year there were 490. From these figures, it is impossible to draw conclusions about the true motives of foreigners using the 'Belgian route'. According to RUS.nl, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service expects to complete its investigation in spring 2009.