Collaboration Maasdriel, West Maas en Waal and Zaltbommel

Why are we helping to provide shelter for refugees?

There are two reasons for this:

1. Social Responsibility: Asylum seeker centers in the Netherlands have been overcrowded for some time now, and there is a severe shortage of shelter spaces. The humanitarian need is great. Like many other municipalities in the Netherlands, we offer a home to people fleeing war and violence. By providing shelter, we are fulfilling our social responsibility. 
2. Legal obligation: All municipalities must contribute to the reception of refugees. This is stipulated in the Distribution Act. The municipalities of Maasdriel, West Maas en Waal, and Zaltbommel agreed to tackle this task jointly. They jointly reviewed what is already being done and what the possibilities are to do more.

Why are these three municipalities working together to provide shelter for refugees? 

The municipalities of Zaltbommel, Maasdriel, and West Maas en Waal signed a letter of intent at the beginning of 2024 to collaborate on the tasks outlined in the Distribution Act. Together, they can effectively address the joint task. They complement each other well and also need each other to meet the requirements.
In a letter to the acting King's Commissioner of Gelderland, the three municipalities outlined how they intend to do this together. By November 1, all provinces must submit their plans to the Ministry of Asylum and Migration. 

What challenges do these three municipalities face, and what has already been done?

In total, the combined target for the three municipalities is:

• Accommodation for 416 refugees and 38 unaccompanied minor refugees 
• Accommodation for 554 Ukrainian displaced persons. As far as the Ukrainians are concerned, we are currently well above the target. If we accommodate 40 unaccompanied minor refugees (UMRs), we will also meet that target.
• We are not yet meeting the quota for regular refugees. If we implement what is outlined in our proposal to the King’s Commissioner, the three of us will collectively house fewer regular refugees than the combined target. On the other hand, we are collectively housing significantly more Ukrainian displaced persons than the target. Shelter locations are in short supply, and we are doing what we can within the available resources. 

Where will the shelters be located, and when?

That has not yet been decided. We are working with the COA to identify suitable locations. Once a decision has been made regarding a location, local residents and stakeholders will be notified.

What are AMVs?

Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers (UMAs) are young people who come to the Netherlands without parents or guardians. They are between the ages of 15 and 18. The COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) houses these young people in small-scale reception centers. Here, they are assigned a youth guardian from the Nidos Foundation. If they are younger than 15, they are generally placed with a host family under the responsibility of the Nidos Foundation. If they are older than 15, they are placed in the COA’s small-scale shelters. The young people receive intensive support, and there is 24/7 supervision at the locations. Like Dutch children, these young people are required to attend school and therefore go to school.

What is the difference between an asylum seeker, a refugee, and a status holder?

An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for protection in the Netherlands.

A refugee is someone whom the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has determined, during the asylum procedure, to be at risk in their country of origin. This person is granted asylum. Once an asylum seeker has been recognized as a refugee and is permitted to remain in the Netherlands, they are granted a temporary residence permit valid for five years.

A refugee with a residence permit is referred to as a status holder. From that point on, this person is allowed to participate fully in Dutch society and integrate. 

If someone has lived in the Netherlands with a residence permit for at least five years, speaks Dutch, and passes an integration exam, that person may apply for Dutch citizenship.

Do residents have a say in the matter? Do you consult with the neighborhood in advance about locations?

Because providing shelter for refugees is a statutory duty, the municipal executive has the authority to make this decision. The municipal executive is taking responsibility for this decision. The municipal executive will inform the municipal council . 

Once a location has been identified and agreements have been reached with the COA, we will notify local residents, businesses in the vicinity of the location, and all residents of the municipalities. 

Of course, the City Council will ensure that residents have a say in how the shelter is run whenever possible. We are committed to ensuring that the shelter runs smoothly for everyone—both local residents and the refugees.   

When will the shelters open?

That is not yet known. To be included in the report under the Distribution Act, the locations must be available to the COA by July 1, 2025. 

What if the Distribution Act is scrapped? Will municipalities also be able to refuse to take in refugees?

There are already not enough shelter spaces available, and the humanitarian need is great. That won’t change if the Distribution Act were to be repealed. We believe that all municipalities should do their part to provide shelter, whether or not there is a Distribution Act. We see this as our social responsibility. 

Does taking in refugees come at the expense of our own residents?

No, providing emergency shelter for refugees does not mean that we will also be accepting more refugees with recognized status. Therefore, there is no need to find additional housing in our municipality.

What about services such as education and healthcare? 

The municipality is responsible for providing education to all school-age children. All children in the Netherlands have the right to education. Children of asylum seekers start school within 3 months of arriving in the Netherlands.
Care is organized differently depending on the type of reception facility. This also depends on the size of the location. The basic principle is that a location is operated by the COA. This includes the COA arranging for care.