As far as I know being a sponsor is your best bet.
I’ve been a sponsor for a ex girlfriend of mine here in NL. If you’re willing to be that for him. You’ll have to prove you have a living space and income so that you can provide for him. Even if he has a job. You’re also going through a difficult process with the IND. For me it involved trips to Amsterdam for the embassy and several hundreds of euros for documents etc. Not only that but you’re essentially stuck with him. I was (like yourself) young and made a mistake with my ex. But as a sponsor you’re by law responsible for them. So keep that in mind. Regardless, If your BF wants citizenship he’ll have to learn the language too. And I’m not too fresh on it but I think he’d have 5 years to become a Dutch citizen.
As far as I know being a sponsor is your best bet.
I’ve been a sponsor for a ex girlfriend of mine here in NL. If you’re willing to be that for him. You’ll have to prove you have a living space and income so that you can provide for him. Even if he has a job. You’re also going through a difficult process with the IND. For me it involved trips to Amsterdam for the embassy and several hundreds of euros for documents etc. Not only that but you’re essentially stuck with him. I was (like yourself) young and made a mistake with my ex. But as a sponsor you’re by law responsible for them. So keep that in mind. Regardless, If your BF wants citizenship he’ll have to learn the language too. And I’m not too fresh on it but I think he’d have 5 years to become a Dutch citizen.