Dutch government looks to revive Imam training to reduce foreign dependence

The Dutch government will make another attempt to establish an accredited imam training program in the Netherlands, State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (Participation and Integration) announced in a letter to the Tweede Kamer. He called it "undesirable" that Dutch Muslims still rely on imams from abroad. "It is important that people who live here are not dependent on other countries to practice their faith," Nobel wrote.

The Netherlands previously had a recognized imam training program at Hogeschool Inholland, but it was discontinued in 2013 due to financial unviability. While other imam training programs exist in the country, they lack official accreditation, meaning they receive no government funding, and students are ineligible for financial aid.

For seven years, successive governments set aside 400,000 euros annually for a potential program. However, Education Minister Eppo Bruins recently halted the funding, sparking criticism from DENK, a party with strong support from Muslim communities.

The most recent effort to establish an accredited program failed last spring. The Vrije Universiteit, the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, IPABO, and the Contactorgaan Moslims en Overheid were unable to agree on the curriculum and legal framework.

The renewed push for an imam training program is part of a broader integration plan outlined in Nobel’s letter. The government also aims to connect refugees with job opportunities in sectors facing labor shortages. Under the proposal, those receiving benefits would be required to accept available jobs. Pilot programs linking refugees to employment opportunities have been ongoing.