Today’s AZC News Round-Up: Hardenberg Asylum Centre Closes After More Than 10 Years
One of the biggest developments in today’s asylum news is the official closure of the asylum reception centre in Hardenberg. The last residents left the centre on Friday, ending more than ten years of asylum reception at the location.
The centre was originally due to close in March, but because of the national shortage of reception places it remained open for several extra months. This led to a dispute between the municipality and the COA, with the municipality imposing financial penalties after the agreed closing date was not respected. Local officials say the delayed closure affected public trust, but they have also indicated they are willing to discuss future asylum and refugee reception once the site has been dismantled.
Across the Netherlands, municipalities continue adjusting asylum reception capacity:
- Sint-Oedenrode: The asylum reception centre will remain open for the next two years and may also support neighbouring municipalities.
- Delft: Sixty reception places at the Campanile Hotel will reopen for regular asylum seekers after unaccompanied minors moved to a new location.
- Uden: The opening of a new reception centre for 300 asylum seekers has been postponed until at least December.
- Achtkarspelen: A sports hall in Surhuisterveen has been prepared as an emergency overnight shelter if extra capacity is needed around Ter Apel.
- Veldhoven: Twenty unaccompanied minor refugees will receive accommodation and support at a specialised youth-care location.
- Someren: The temporary reception centre will close on 1 September as planned, despite a largely trouble-free operation.
- Medemblik: Residents can visit a weekly information point before the opening of the new asylum reception centre.
Living conditions at the Oog in Al asylum centre in Utrecht have also come under attention after residents reported problems with rats, mice and insects. The municipality says a long-awaited renovation should improve the situation.
Security and public order remain important topics. Authorities in Ter Apel continue to deal with a small group of repeat troublemakers, while discussions continue about which government body is responsible for introducing additional security measures. In Loosdrecht, a man has been sentenced to community service for threatening police officers during a protest against an asylum centre.
Local discussions about new reception centres also continue. Politicians in Rotterdam have objected to access roads for the planned asylum centre in Barendrecht, while Vijfheerenlanden remains opposed to plans for a reception centre in Hoogblokland. In Zwolle, the municipality has acknowledged that communication with residents about asylum reception plans should have been clearer.
There were also positive developments. A pilot project in the Achterhoek is successfully matching asylum seekers with local employers to help fill staff shortages, and in Eindhoven, children living in an asylum reception centre took part in a theatre performance as part of a community cultural programme.
Finally, the COA has launched a legal claim worth €184.7 million against a businessman and his company over contracts for hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. The case is linked to a wider investigation into suspected fraud involving emergency asylum reception.
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