Title: Dutch Municipalities Establish New Asylum Seeker Facilities Amid Distribution Law Challenges
Subheading: Over 100 Municipalities Act Independently to Address Asylum Seeker Housing Crisis
NL Times
September 22, 2024
Amsterdam – Despite the existing asylum distribution law, which mandates the creation of around 96,000 reception places for asylum seekers by mid-2025, approximately 100 municipalities in the Netherlands have embarked on the establishment of additional facilities for asylum seekers. These initiatives include both temporary shelters and the development of permanent housing solutions, according to reports from the Telegraaf.
The ongoing efforts come in the face of discussions within the Schoof Cabinet regarding the implementation of an emergency asylum law. However, municipalities are pressing ahead with plans from the previous government, actively seeking new shelters for asylum seekers.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that the strict asylum regulations proposed by the PVV Cabinet are yet to take effect. With people continuing to arrive in the Netherlands, the reception problem has intensified. Jorrit Eijbersen, the mayor of Hellendoorn, a municipality actively involved in constructing a new asylum seeker center, emphasized the immediate need for action: At the moment, the strict asylum regulations promised by the Cabinet are not yet in force, and people are still coming to the Netherlands. The fact is that we already have a major reception problem.
Hellendoorn is not alone in its endeavors. Wijchen in Gelderland plans to build a center for 300 people, while Enschede is set to open a new facility by the end of the year. Innovation is also at play, with some municipalities focusing on repurposing existing buildings. For instance, in Venlo, former monasteries are being converted to house 600 asylum seekers. Haarlem will accommodate around 300 asylum seekers in an empty office building from the end of 2024, and a tax office in Alkmaar will be transformed into emergency accommodation.
Amsterdam is taking a more unconventional approach by offering space on the MS Galaxy ship, which can accommodate approximately 1,500 asylum seekers.
Yet, not all municipalities are proceeding with the same urgency. The municipality of Westland, for example, has suspended its plans for a new asylum seeker center pending the outcome of the distribution law discussions. The mayor of Westland has expressed that there is no urgency to build new shelters due to the anticipated changes in the law.
As the situation unfolds, the Netherlands’ municipalities are demonstrating a mix of proactive measures and cautious等待, all while working to address the immediate housing needs of asylum seekers within the current legal framework.
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