[2] This migration was partially a consequence of the expulsion decree enacted in 1496 by the Portuguese monarchy, specifically targeting Jews and Moors residing in Portugal.

Brazil, where the European population spoke Portuguese, and France – where around 10,000 Portuguese-Jews sought refuge – became popular destinations for many.

Many of the Jews who left for the Dutch provinces were crypto-Jews, persons who had converted to Catholicism but continued to practice Judaism in secret.

Other that adding to the economical and cultural aspects of their host countries,[7] the Portuguese-Jews also established institutions that are still present, such as the Esnoga, in Amsterdam.

Numerous Jewish individuals extended their support to the House of Orange, consequently receiving protection from the stadholder in return.

Portuguese-Jews are connected to the expansion of the Dutch colonial empire, as they are responsible for the appearance of Papiamentu[8] (a 300,000 speakers-strong[9] Portuguese-based creole now official language in Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire) and of Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole influenced by Portuguese spoken by more than 500,000 people in the former Dutch colony of Suriname.

[10][11] Dealing with Suriname, it is noteworthy that its first capital, Torarica (literally "rich Torah" in Portuguese), was established by Portuguese-Jewish settlers.

The Portuguese-Jewish community in the Netherlands has produced many notable figures, among which there are famous philosopher Baruch Spinoza and mathematician Rehuel Lobatto.

[12][13] Among famous Portuguese-Jewish victims of the Shoah there are figures such as painter Baruch Lopes Leão de Laguna, composer Leo Smit or professor Juda Lion Palache.In the 1960s, Portuguese guest workers came to work in the Netherlands.

Moreover, the subsequent spike in the number of entries by Portuguese nationals in 2021 can be most likely partly attributed to the postponement of migration processes in the preceding year.

Portuguese migrants generally tend to settle for shorter periods of a few years, as opposed to permanent migrations prevalent during the 1960s great emigration movements from Portugal towards France.

The Portuguese are part of a wider Portuguese-speaking community in the Netherlands, comprising around 35,000 people from PALOP countries (the overwhelming majority being from Angola or from Cape Verde), Timor-Leste or Macau[20] and 76,500 Brazilians.