Not enough newcomers to the Netherlands are attending the obligatory social integration course, Integration Minister Eberhard van der Laan has said in a statement to the media.

The minister wants 50,000 people to embark on the courses this year, but current trends point to a number of no more than 35,000. Mr Van der Laan says this is a worrying development. He is planning to call local authorities to account next month for the way they implement the integration courses.

Everyone who is under an obligation to attend the course should receive an invitation soon, and people willing to take the course voluntarily should be targeted directly, Minister Van der Laan said. The integration course system was set up to prevent newcomers from remaining isolated from Dutch society and help them become familiar with rules and customs in the country.

Dutch Integration Minister Eberhard van der Laan (ANP Photo)