Klantreis

Observational documentary following newcomers in the Netherlands as they navigate their path through the integration process. The challenges of civic integration become tangible, and the audience is confronted with a mirror: a system that is efficient and client-focused in design, yet increasingly disconnected from human reality.

Since the new Civic Integration Act came into effect in the Netherlands, the responsibility for integration no longer lies with the newcomers but with the individual municipalities. To guide this process, the city of Breda developed the Customer Journey Integration. This observational documentary follows a large Syrian family and two Somali sisters in Breda as they navigate their path through this integration process.  

The film shows the challenges faced by both the newcomers and the professionals trying to guide them through the maze of Dutch society. From housing, financial relief, language and cultural education, and local buddy programs, to social services and employment support, the film offers a unique insight into how institutions try to help people settle into a new life. Klantreis (Customer Journey) reveals how recognized refugees move from one desk to the next in a system where policies, institutions and good intentions often collide with daily reality and cultural differences. Through the lens of integration, the film reveals how complex and fragmented Dutch society can be.