CUSTOMER JOURNEY – WELCOME TO THE NETHERLANDS

CUSTOMER JOURNEY follows recognized refugees and the people guiding them through the Dutch integration system, a world as complex as it is absurd, where rules, forms, and good intentions collide, revealing the tensions and challenges at the heart of Dutch society and holding up a mirror to it. Read here how you can contribute.

director & cinematography: Ton van Zantvoort
producer: NEWTON film / Annerose Langeveld
language: Dutch, English, Arabic
duration: 83 minutes
expected: April 23, 2026
ISAN: 0000-0007-0431-0000-1-0000-0000-Y
maccsbox filmnumber: 99153352
age classification: ALL

The documentary and impact campaign are made possible by VSBfonds, Province of North Brabant, vfonds, Fund for Special Journalistic Projects, the Cultural Fund, Municipality of Breda and EO.

Logline
CUSTOMER JOURNEY follows recognized refugees and the people guiding them through the Dutch integration system, a world as complex as it is absurd, where rules, forms, and good intentions collide, revealing the tensions and challenges at the heart of Dutch society and holding up a mirror to it.

Since the new Civic Integration Act came into effect in the Netherlands, the responsibility for integration no longer lies with the refugees themselves but with the individual municipalities. To manage this process, the city of Breda developed the Customer Journey Integration framework.

CUSTOMER JOURNEY follows a large Syrian family and two Somali sisters as they navigate this integration system. The film shows the difficulties faced not only by the refugees but also by the professionals trying to support them. From housing, financial assistance, language and cultural courses, and local buddy programs, to social services and employment guidance, the film offers an unique and personal view of how institutions attempt to help people build a new life.

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. 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.

After its premiere in April 2026, CUSTOMER JOURNEY will be screened in various cinemas across the country. Let us know in which city you would like to see the film, and we will do our best to organize a screening there as well. We’ll keep you updated as soon as the film is showing near you.

The documentary CUSTOMER JOURNEY  offers a sharp and human insight into what integration means today for recognized refugees and the professionals supporting them. The film invites dialogue on integration, policy, and society.

Your organization can arrange an exclusive screening, for example with a Q&A with the director or involved parties.

Join, share, and reflect on how society can become more understandable and accessible for everyone.

Easily share CUSTOMER JOURNEY: send this email to someone, copy the sample text below and share it with one click via the social buttons.

Want to organize a screening? Get in touch.

Release April 23, 2026

With special thanks to:
Fotoon & Khulud Mahood Alsomali
Bilal, Salem, Khaldiya, Islam, Fatme Sham, Aisha, Nour Barakat

Script, direction, cinematography & editing
Ton van Zantvoort

Sound and additional camera
Marit Habing, Ahmad Alzaraa, Aram Voermans, Pauline van Tilburg

Direction and editing coach
Joost Seelen

Editing advice
Theo Raben, Gerard Cevaal, Mario Steenbergen

Music
Roy Bemelmans

Sound post-production
Ronnie van Overveld

Image finishing
Ramon de Jong, Ton van Zantvoort

Interpreter
Dilovan Abdulrahman, Ahmad Bayae Nauwe, Ahmad Sherih

Translation Arabic
Ahmad Bayae Nauwe, Ahmad Alzaraa, Yasmeen Abdulhadi, Sabrine Benhmida, Eshraqa Sami, Omar Ashraf Abdou, Ahmed Salem, Ahmed Mamdouh Negm, Zahraa Arabic, Abdelrahman Rabie Ahmed

Subtitles
Jozef Brienen, Ton van Zantvoort, Chance Roes, Joost Brouwers

Production
NEWTON film

Producers
Annerose Langeveld, Ton van Zantvoort

Foundation board
Koen van Grinsven, Etienne van Nuland, Marcel Melchers

EOdocs
Hans van der Linden, Yke van Dok, Margit Balogh, Judith Vreriks, Dorine Dieleman

Design & trailer
newton solutions

Teaser re-edit
Wouter Sessink

Special thanks to:
Gemeente Breda Carien van Weezel, Lot van Schendel, Jos Oskam, Mauritcia Jacott, Hasina Haspels, Arjen van Drunen, Marjan Smit, Marike de Nobel, Femke van Dongen, Gab Gommeren, Sema Özkan-Durmus, Angelique de Leij, Ceciel Grasmeijer, Mechmoed El Achachi, Marisa van Langeveld, Anja den Braber, Petra van der Elst
Arriva Bart van Gurp, Eloy Kooymans, Pieter Thielen
Basisschool de Fontein Helga Hoogendoorn, Nicolette Rooimans, Esther Hollants, Wieke Postma
Breda Actief Rianne Wierda
Breda Promotions Barbara Putters, Marianne Brock
Budgetbeheer Sailin Lakhi, Afaf Harrad, Raymond Jansen
Buddy to Buddy Diana Prins, Ilse Polderman, Emma Pierre, Max Jongenelen, Harry Reininga, Patricia Brunklaus, Liesbeth van Well
Buddies Danique Spierts, Anouk Mettler, Sam Waanders
COA Rien de Gier, Jasmin Gheibi, Lynda Gelderland, Joeri Kapteijns, Sandy Roovers, Ilse van Elshout, Annebel Breugelmans, opvanglocatie azc Oisterwijk
Digi-Taalhuis Breda Rinske Faas, Sophie van Mackelenberghd Hussin, Muluebrhan, Abdalkarem Hussen
NCB Breda Peggy Beckers, Sirin Akel
Nieuwkomers “Opstartklas: Wuok Mayang, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Mohamed Buti, Tarik Alrawi A A, Ezeddin Buti, Aven Buti, Ozcan Kaya, Fevziye Kaya, Hussein Omar Alnasi, Jehan Buti, Abdullah Melih Kaya, Akid Abdo, Arij Shikh Ahmad, Mostafa Mostafa, Bilal Haidari, Marwan BK Qirani, Kozi Khalaf Gars Al-Khalaf, Berivan MB Qirani;

Arriva workshop: Hala, Karima, Mustafa, Mkhaiber, Karimhe, Abdulaziz, Mikheabr, Mohammed, Layla, Khairy, Mariam, Yazan, Hesham, Imbaba
Tulp Training: Mohamed Buti, Kassed Zaid Qasim Al-Sadi, Mazen, Haroun, Muzaffar, Mezigin;
Tilburg University: Mohamed Ousso, Asma, Mazem Hassouna, Nesrin, Yasser, MohammaNCB Breda Peggy Beckers, Sirin Akel
Nieuwkomers “Opstartklas: Wuok Mayang, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Mohamed Buti, Tarik Alrawi A A, Ezeddin Buti, Aven Buti, Ozcan Kaya, Fevziye Kaya, Hussein Omar Alnasi, Jehan Buti, Abdullah Melih Kaya, Akid Abdo, Arij Shikh Ahmad, Mostafa Mostafa, Bilal Haidari, Marwan BK Qirani, Kozi Khalaf Gars Al-Khalaf, Berivan MB Qirani;
Arriva workshop: Hala, Karima, Mustafa, Mkhaiber, Karimhe, Abdulaziz, Mikheabr, Mohammed, Layla, Khairy, Mariam, Yazan, Hesham, Imbaba
Tulp Training: Mohamed Buti, Kassed Zaid Qasim Al-Sadi, Mazen, Haroun, Muzaffar, Mezigin;
Tilburg University: Mohamed Ousso, Asma, Mazem Hassouna, Nesrin, Yasser, Mohamma
Hello Breda Ahmad Sherih, Fatima Lammou
IMW Job Walvoort, Johan Eeftink, Wanda Springeling

Laurentius Sandra Verboven, Mohamed Ikouaa, Angelica van de Ven, Ingrid van Loon, Jolanda de Putter, Ad Nuiten
McDonald’s Marianne Kemps, Brahim E. Khangui
Stichting Vluchtelingenwerk Marlinde van Gilst, Ahmad Bayae Nauwe, Farah van Valkenburg, Rateb Abdulaziz, Peter van der List, Bloem Herber, Johannes van Spiegel, Fawaz Hassan, Joep van Meurs, Tineke Stuij
Schaatsbaan Breda Gianni Romme
Surplus Natasja van Hassel, Tjerry van der Meer
Stichting Taalideaal Ria Keijzers, Heidi Krijnen, Marjon Jacobs, Vera van den Beemt, Til Dekker, Marion Löhr-IJspeert
Taalmaatjes Peter van Gijsel, Thijs Verhees
Tilburg University Lisa Duenk, Lenny van Poppel, Anneke Smits, Angelique van Barneveld
Tulp Training Bianca Koorndijk, Ingrid Vaessen Bosma, Hafsa Daoudi, Hanane El-Khetabi
Wonenbreburg Arno Brenters, Timothy Ofori, Mohamed Ikouaa

en Mondiaal Centrum Breda, Vincent Blijsma, Niekie Khaled-Kleintjes, Maher HajjKaddour, Wouter Sessink, Hinne Brouwer, Michiel Ubels, David Verdurme, Cleo Julia Mulis, Stijn van Eekelen, Aram Voermans, Marcel Melchers, Jesse van Venrooij, Frans Mouws, Pauline van Tilburg, Wouter Verhoeven, Etienne van Nuland, Koen van Grinsven, Giel van Schaijk, Lisa Grooters, Bart Coenders, Kees Brienen, Guido Hendrikx, Ronnie van Overveld, Roy Bemelmans, Joanna van der Zanden, Ira Hoefsmid, Antoon en Ardie van Zantvoort, Stijn van Zantvoort

With thanks to all the organizations that made this film possible:
Gemeente Breda, Stichting Vluchtelingenwerk, Hello Breda, Status Go, Buddy tot Buddy, Tilburg University, Krediet Bank, COA, Taal Ideaal, NCB Breda, Tulp Training, basisschool De Fontein, Zorg voor elkaar, IMW, Arriva, Digi-Taalhuis Nieuwe Veste, woningcorporatie Laurentius en Wonenbreburg.

The documentary and impact campaign are made possible by VSBfonds, Province of North Brabant, vfonds, Fund for Special Journalistic Projects, the Cultural Fund, Municipality of Breda and EO.