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(Amsterdam, Holland) Can two men marry?
That is one of the questions that would-be immigrants may be asked as
part of a new exam for prospective immigrants to The Netherlands.
Draft legislation for the new examination, or
inburgeringsexamen, was unveiled by Immigration and Integration
Minister Rita Verdonk.
Other questions ask if it OK to sunbathe topless
on the country's North Sea beaches and whether Holland has a king or a queen.
The exam tests the
ability of prospective immigrants to speak Dutch and to gauge their understanding of Dutch culture.
It would be taken in the person's home country prior to coming to the
Netherlands.
Prior to taking he exam applicants are given a
video to give candidates insight into
life in The Netherlands. It includes images of women sunbathing topless on the beach
and of gay marriage — two examples of accepted behavior in the
Netherlands.
Students will need 250 to 350 hours preparation before sitting the
exam, Verdonk said.
The legislation provides for exemptions for
people emigrating from certain countries including citizens from other EU
countries, the US,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
However, some may
be required to undertake an integration course and exam when in the
Netherlands.
"As integration into Dutch society is a longterm process it is
important that newcomers before arrival to the Netherlands have a command
of the Dutch language at a basic level and developed an understanding of
the society into which they are coming," Verdonk said.
©365Gay.com 2005
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