From March through July 2020, the Ombudsman Metropolis Amsterdam spoke to a large number of undocumented people to gain a better understanding of their lives and what motivates them to stay in The Netherlands.

Amsterdam must become an exploitation-free city. To achieve this, the situation of undocumented people must no longer be looked away from. This is what Arre Zuurmond, ombudsman Metropolitan Amsterdam, reports in his report Onzichtbaar (Invisible). In his report he calls attention to the problems of undocumented people, especially extra vulnerable groups such as young people, migrant workers and the elderly. The ombudsman attached to his report a number of recommendations to administrators to ensure that the living conditions of undocumented migrants are improved and that they are better protected from exploitation. The ombudsman also reviewed the documentary,
see his video The Invisible about the daily lives of some of the undocumented.
Between 10,000 and 30,000 undocumented people reside in Amsterdam, according to the Ombudsman. This is a rough estimate because they are barely on the radar of the authorities. Indeed, many lead as invisible an existence as possible for fear of being deported. They keep the informal economy going and use their own social networks to get jobs and housing or to ask for help.
What prompted the Ombudsman’s investigation were often harrowing stories of undocumented people he received. The corona virus outbreak made their vulnerable position especially clear. Through interviews with undocumented people and the professionals who support them, he gained a clearer picture of the living conditions and specific problems of various groups of undocumented people. For example, the research revealed that young people, migrant workers and the elderly in particular need extra attention. They often get into trouble because their vulnerable position leads to undesirable situations in terms of education, legal protection, healthcare and exploitation. “Being undocumented is tough and has a major impact on people’s lives, self-esteem and health,” says Zuurmond. “Looking away or keeping these people under the radar is not an option, in doing so you make them even more vulnerable. You also have to ask yourself what kind of society we want to be. How important do we think it is to offer people a dignified existence and to be exploitation-free as a society and city? Therefore, provide solutions to the current situation and work on improvements both front and back. In doing so, as a government you must actively seek cooperation with other agencies, both nationally and internationally.”