OpenEmbassy Panel
The voice of newcomers as a policy compass
The OpenEmbassy Survey Panel OpenEmbassy an ongoing group of newcomers to the Netherlands who share their experiences, wishes, and challenges through short, accessible, and multilingual questionnaires. The goal: to provide structural insight into how newcomers experience life in the Netherlands—and how policy can better respond to their needs.
Why is this interesting?
- Continuous and accessible contact with various groups of newcomers,
- Systematic insights into obstacles and solutions,
- and a reliable bridge between practical experience and policy-making.
Who is it for?
- Municipalities and labor market regions
- Researchers and think tanks
- Ministries and Federal Government
- NGOs and civil society organizations
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Organization and participants
Does the panel operate nationally, or are there also panels at the municipal or regional level?
The panel operates nationwide, but we collect data in a way that also allows for local insights. When distributing surveys, we keep track of which municipality participants live in, which allows us to analyze results per municipality or region. This is particularly valuable for municipalities that want to tailor their policies to the living environment of newcomers in their own city.
How do you recruit participants for the panel?
Recruitment takes place in several ways:
- Through community leaders (such as key figures, researchers at OpenEmbassy experts by experience),
- Through WhatsApp and Facebook groups where many newcomers are active
- Through language schools, social organizations, and buddy projects
- During physical meetings such as expert pools and workshops.
We use a combination of online and offline channels, always in the language and style that suits the target group.
How diverse is the panel?
We strive for a representative and diverse panel, taking into account factors such as:
- Different ages (young people, adults, elderly people)
- Diverse migration backgrounds (e.g., Syria, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Eritrea)
- Different routes within the integration process (Z route, B1 route, education route, family migrants, Ukrainian displaced persons),
- And diversity in educational level, length of stay, and digital skills.
Currently, there are also participants with physical or mental disabilities and single parents active in the panel.
How many people are on the Panel?
We currently have around 50 active participants because the panel is still in its pilot phase. Our goal is to expand this to at least 500 participants (which should be very easy for us to achieve) by the end of 2026, while maintaining a good spread across target groups and regions.
Do panel members receive compensation?
We do not currently offer standard financial compensation, but we are working on a system that allows for both material and immaterial forms of appreciation, depending on the level of involvement. Examples include:
- Feedback on what happens with their input
- Invitations to meetings or workshops.
- Networking opportunities
work/volunteer work, and internship opportunities - And in some cases, a role as ambassador or co-host with additional support.
Data collection and results
What makes the Survey Panel different from regular surveys or questionnaires?
The Survey Panel is participatory and continuous. Instead of one-off surveys, we systematically collect input from newcomers.
In addition, the panel is accessible, multilingual, mobile-friendly, and co-designed by the target group itself. This allows us to reach groups that would otherwise often remain out of sight.
How do you ensure that the data is reliable and representative?
- We send out our surveys through various channels and take into account the balance between routes, regions, ages, countries of origin, and education levels.
- For each survey, we conduct a representativeness test (e.g., do we have enough young people, women, Ukrainians, people with low literacy skills).
- We also use mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) to identify patterns and interpret experiences.
How do you handle privacy and data security?
- We do not collect names, phone numbers, or traceable data in surveys.
- All data is processed anonymously or pseudonymously, fully GDPR-compliant.
- For repeated surveys, we use a unique code for each participant—not their real name or email address.
- We communicate in simple language about how their data is used.
Research questions and results
Can we add our own questions to the panel?
Yes, that is possible. We offer the option of adding customized questions to an existing survey round, or co-creating a separate thematic survey with your organization.
However, we always ensure that the tone, length, and language used are appropriate for our target group.
What happens to the results? Will we receive them too?
Certainly. As a partner or customer, you will receive a customized report, possibly with infographics, tables, and quotes from open questions.
If desired, we can also set up a Power BI dashboard that allows you to track live data (anonymized).
We always link results back to participants—this is essential for trust.
What does it cost to work with the panel?
That depends on the question. Municipalities can join an existing round (low entry costs) or develop their own theme with guidance (customized process).
Costs depend on factors such as the number of questions, the desired target group, the reporting format, and the need for co-creation. We are happy to help you determine what fits within your budget.
Spread the word!
Do you know or work with newcomers who might be interested in the Survey Panel? Or do you know any government agencies or organizations that might be interested in collaborating with the panel and surveying a target group?
Share this page about the Survey Panel or download and share the flyer.
Thanks in advance!
Article Survey Panel
Background information about the survey panel
