The number of people moving out of the Netherlands fell for the first time in seven years, the Dutch central statistics bureau (CBS) reported Wednesday.
About 123,000 people left the Netherlands in 2007, a reduction of 9,000 compared with the previous year. But still, the figure was much higher than in 2000, when fewer than 80,000 people emigrated, according to the report.
Last year, two in three emigrants were of foreign descent, while more than half were first generation immigrants.
Belgium remained the most popular destination for Dutch emigrants with its cheaper houses and better weather, the CBS said, adding that more than 12,000 people left for Belgium in 2007.
Germany and Britain were listed as the second and the third most popular destinations.
Meanwhile, immigration increased by 15 percent to almost 117,000 people.
The country has seen more emigrants than immigrants since 2004,partly due to strict legislation on immigration.
Earlier in the month, the CBS said the Dutch population grew by46,000 in 2007, totaling 16.4 million.
Source: Xinhua
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