Spread Act and West Maas and Waal

What will happen now?  

On December 3, 2024, the council designated the location on Friessestraat in Boven-Leeuwen as a promising location. No final decision has yet been made as to whether the location will also be put into use.

The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has completed its investigation into the financial feasibility of establishing the reception center with a positive outcome. Now that this has been clarified, a permit procedure will be initiated. The next step is to conduct a preliminary spatial investigation. This should reveal whether it is also possible from a planning perspective to build and manage the reception center on Friessestraat. The COA expected to be able to give a definitive answer on the spatial feasibility in the third quarter of 2025. This has been postponed to 2026. During this permit procedure, the municipality and the COA, together with local residents, will look at the conditions for the successful realization of the temporary shelter.

What is the plan for this location?

• December 3, 2024, council decision on childcare at Friessestraat
• December 3, 2024 Communication regarding decision on childcare facility on Friessestraat
• December 16, 2024 Information evening for residents. At 8 p.m. at MFA De Rosmolen, Beneden-Leeuwen
• 2026 procedures and feasibility studies
• 2026 clarity on final use of plot
• The expected commissioning of the location is 2026/2027.

The most recent schedule is shown above.

Application procedure for environmental permits and non-plan environmental planning activities (BOPA)

The reception of asylum seekers does not fit within the current environmental plan. The municipality cannot therefore issue an environmental permit directly. If the municipality still wishes to cooperate in the reception of asylum seekers on Friessestraat in Boven-Leeuwen, it can do so by granting an environmental permit for an activity outside the environmental plan (BOPA). In the case of accommodating asylum seekers, this is only possible if the municipal council issues a positive recommendation on the environmental permit.

Method:

1. The application for an environmental permit is submitted to the mayor and aldermen.
2. The municipal council decides to issue a positive or negative recommendation.
3. The recommendation is binding, which means that the council may only grant the permit if the municipal council issues a positive recommendation.
4. The decision to grant an environmental permit will be published on www.overheid.nl. An objection may be lodged against the decision.
5. You can then appeal against the decision to the District Court and lodge an appeal with the Council of State .

When does childcare start?

Once the permit has been granted, work will commence and a schedule will be drawn up. The expected commissioning date for the reception center on Friessestraat in Boven-Leeuwen was late 2025/early 2026, but this has been revised to 2026/2027.

Is it possible that this location will become a permanent shelter for asylum seekers?

No, the expectation is that the location will ultimately be used as an expansion site for the business park.

How many people can be accommodated at the location?

The location can accommodate 150 to 180 asylum seekers. The COA determines who will be placed in the shelter and when.

Do asylum seekers from safe countries come to live here?

The asylum procedure for people from safe countries is given priority and is shorter than that for asylum seekers from unsafe countries. In this short procedure, a rejection usually follows within a few weeks. According to the COA, on average, approximately 3% of the reception places in our locations are occupied by asylum seekers from safe countries who are awaiting their trial. Incidentally, among the group of asylum seekers from safe countries, there are people who are granted asylum because of political activism, critical journalistic work, or because they belong to the LGBTQ+ community. These people are accommodated by the COA.

Where do these people go after they have been granted a residence permit?

The COA tries to match people who are granted a permit (permit holders) as much as possible with municipalities in the vicinity of the reception center. This contributes to the successful integration of newcomers in the region. People who are not granted a permit must leave the Netherlands.

Who is responsible for this reception center?

The COA has assessed the location as 'suitable' and is now working on a business case for this location. It is fully responsible for the realization and delivery of the accommodation facilities at the location. The municipality is not making use of the option to realize or operate the location itself.

Are asylum seekers allowed to work?

Asylum seekers are allowed to work in the Netherlands. However, their asylum application must have been pending for at least six months. If an asylum seeker has a job and an income, they must pay a personal contribution to the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers). This contribution covers the costs of reception, among other things.

How is education for children organized?

Asylum seeker children, like Dutch children, are subject to compulsory education and therefore attend school. When school-age children arrive at the reception center, the municipality will make every effort to ensure that these children receive an education as quickly as possible.

What measures are being taken in terms of safety, quality of life, and support?

• The COA enforces house rules and rules of conduct and takes measures if these are not observed.
• Once the location is occupied, 24/7 security will be provided.
• Local residents will be provided with a direct telephone number for the COA (on-site telephone) that they can call in the event of nuisance.

How is care for asylum seekers organized?

Asylum seekers have access to necessary medical care, such as general practitioner care, obstetric care, and hospital care. This is organized and financed by the COA. Healthcare for Asylum Seekers (GZA) provides general practitioner care at the reception center on behalf of the COA. This organization ensures that a general practitioner is present at the location several times a week, for example. The location therefore does not call on local general practitioners.
In addition, the Municipal Health Service (GGD) is responsible for public health care. For asylum seekers, this care focuses on disease prevention, information, and check-ups. For example, the GGD provides vaccinations for asylum seekers' children and checks hygiene in the reception centers.

What about the value of our house?

The COA states that research shows that there is no link between the value of a home and an asylum seekers' center in the neighborhood.
There is a so-called 'disadvantage scheme'. Residents can claim this, but they must prove that they are disadvantaged. The COA will then provide compensation.

What about the depreciation of our house, business, or plot of land?

Do you think your property will lose value due to the arrival of the asylum seekers' center? If so, you can request financial compensation. This is called disadvantage compensation (formerly planning damage).
Disadvantage compensation can be requested after an environmental permit has been issued. We cannot say exactly when this will be, but we expect it to be at the end of 2025 / beginning of 2026.

You can find more detailed information about compensation for damages at the Environmental Information Center (IPLO) at .

Where can I go with concerns and questions?

To contact the municipality, please email opvang@westmaasenwaal.nl.

What can I do to help?

When the location is open, you can register as a volunteer. We will provide more information about this at that time.