Frontiers of Equality in the Development of EU and US Citizenship

Author: Dr Jeremy B. Bierbach

Jeremy Bierbach (1975) is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, Jeremy worked as an IT specialist for several years. In 2001, Jeremy emigrated to the Netherlands. In 2003, he changed his career direction. He studied law at the University of Amsterdam, earning a bachelor’s degree in Dutch law in 2006 and a master’s in constitutional and administrative law in 2007. Jeremy subsequently worked as a legal advisor through Avocado Legal, where he focused on immigration and European migration law. In January 2014, Jeremy joined Franssen Advocaten and was sworn into the Dutch bar as an attorney. In September 2015, he successfully defended his PhD thesis in European constitutional law at the University of Amsterdam. A commercial edition of his thesis, Frontiers of Equality in the Development of US and EU Citizenship, was published in 2017 by Asser Press. 

His specialty and focus of interest are in invoking norms of international law — EU law in particular — as a source of protection for members of minority groups who are unrepresented or underrepresented in the democratic process: in particular EU citizens, their non-EU citizen family members, and other non-EU citizen immigrants to the Netherlands (including British citizens as former EU citizens).

Takeaways

• Amsterdam is a popular city due to its charm and infrastructure.
• The Netherlands is located northwest of Europe and is known for its flat landscape and canals.
• Amsterdam has a temperate climate with short days in winter and long days in summer.
• The city has a history of tolerance and a vibrant LGBTQ community.
• Housing in Amsterdam can be expensive, with limited availability.
• Utilities, including gas and electricity, can be costly.
• The price of groceries in Amsterdam is lower compared to the US, with high-quality produce available.
• Meeting friends and gay people in Amsterdam is relatively easy due to the city's diverse and inclusive culture.
• The Red Light District is a famous area in Amsterdam known for its adult entertainment. Obtaining a visa in the Netherlands is challenging for non-EU citizens, as Dutch immigration law is based on the concept that the country is already whole and has a housing shortage.
• The only ways for non-EU citizens to move to the Netherlands are through family connections, work-related migration, or the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, which allows US citizens to legally reside in the Netherlands to develop and run a business.
• Living in Amsterdam has its advantages, such as a high quality of life, good infrastructure, and a vibrant queer scene. Still, it also has limitations, including limited housing stock and strict zoning regulations.

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