Change in support provided by VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)

VluchtelingenWerk (VWN) receives funding from the Ministry of Asylum and Migration for its work at the asylum locations. The ministry has decided that VWN will receive far less funding as of 2026. This will force VWN to change the activities it organises.

Presence at locations

As of 1 January 2026, VWN services will no longer be available at all reception locations. To prepare for this change, VWN will reduce its availability and presence at the locations between 15 December 2025 and 4 January 2026.

Asylum procedure

VWN will continue to help you with any questions you have during the asylum procedure. If you are living at a location where VWN is no longer present, you can arrange an online meeting with a VWN employee instead via this link Make an appointment with VluchtelingenWerk Nederland – RefugeeHelp.

Dublin claimants, unaccompanied minors (UMs) and status holders will no longer be able to make an appointment with VWN while they are living in reception centres.

Family reunification

The minister of Asylum and Migration has also decided that VWN must stop providing assistance during the new family reunification procedure as of 1 December 2025. The IND will provide this assistance instead.

From 1 December 2025 onwards, the IND will provide you with information about family reunification, in Dutch and English, via IND.nl. You will also have access to a telephone helpdesk (family reunification line). If you have any questions about family reunification, head to IND.nl.

Please note! If you submit your family reunification application before 1 December and receive a letter from the IND, you can contact VWN for follow-up support. This support will only be available in the form of an online meeting. Make an appointment with a VWN colleague via the following link: Make an appointment with VluchtelingenWerk Nederland – RefugeeHelp.

Go to www.refugeehelp.nl, for a step-by-step plan on how to submit a family reunification application to the IND. The ‘COA infobalie’ will provide you with written information about family reunification. 

Assistance via the municipality

f you are a status holder and live independently in a municipality (in your own home) or at a municipal reception location for status holders, you will still be entitled to ask VWN to help you with the family reunification or family formation procedure in many municipalities. This help will continue to be available because many municipalities pay for this separately.

f you would like more information about family reunification in the Netherlands, see the relevant page on www.refugeehelp.nl.

More information

For detailed information, see www.refugeehelp.nl. If you need help, contact a VWN employee or the COA.

Bron: mycoa.nl