Rijksmuseum chief slams tougher rules for highly-skilled migrants

Dutch government rules cost cultural institutions like the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the National Ballet thousands of euros extra to recruit staff and performers from outside the EU, says Rijksmuseum director Wim Pijbes.

The rules mean that cultural institutions like the Concertgebouw orchestra and the National Ballet must first advertise vacancies within Europe, before being allowed to take on non-EU musicians and dancers.

Only when EU avenues have been exhausted, are they allowed to advertise worldwide.

Pijbes says in Monday’s Financieele Dagblad this process costs thousands of euros in extra adverts and interview rounds. In addition, the rules on bringing in young top talents, who don’t earn much yet, have become even tougher.

There is an urgent need for exemptions for organisations which are so internationally-orientated, like the Rijksmuseum and National Ballet, he says. ‘There are separate rules for footballers, for asparagus pickers and for seasonal work,’ he points out.

He estimates an extra interview round costs the museum €15,000.

Pijbes also criticises the Dutch salary restrictions for ‘knowledge migrants, which state someone under the age of 30 must earn at least €3,000 per month. This, he says, is an unrealistic salary for someone leaving college or school. In addition, the entire process has to be repeated every year, he points out.