The Municipality of Wassenaar Reaches Agreements with Four Other Municipalities Regarding Asylum Seekers and Status Holders
The municipality of Wassenaar has reached agreements with the municipalities of Rijswijk, Westland, Leidschendam-Voorburg, and Pijnacker-Nootdorp regarding the reception of asylum seekers, status holders, unaccompanied minor foreign nationals, and displaced persons from Ukraine. These four municipalities will be responsible for housing status holders, providing shelter for unaccompanied minor foreigners, and handling part of the reception of Ukrainian displaced persons. In exchange, Wassenaar will temporarily create additional asylum reception spots at the existing Wassenaar Asylum Seekers’ Center (AZC).
Alderman Laurens van Doeveren (Asylum Reception): “Wassenaar is taking responsibility—a much greater responsibility than the Distribution Act requires of us when it comes to accommodating asylum seekers. We’re doing this because, for example, we’ve swapped the entire quota for status holders with other municipalities. This is a wonderful example of regional cooperation in which municipalities receive a fair share of the various responsibilities arising from the Distribution Act. I am pleased that we have succeeded in reaching agreements with fellow aldermen regarding the reception of people in the Haaglanden region. It is good that the law allows for a balanced distribution within our region, with each municipality doing what it can.”
Call to the Cabinet
Van Doeveren: “At the same time, I would like to call on the cabinet—and Minister of Asylum Bart van den Brink in particular—to take a comprehensive view of the overall challenge of providing shelter and housing for people in need. Providing shelter for asylum seekers, status holders, unaccompanied minor foreigners, and displaced persons from Ukraine are not four separate issues, but parts of a single societal challenge. You must organize and finance them in a coordinated manner. Otherwise, you will not be able to Health e sufficient support from municipal governments and residents, even though the challenges are so great.”
A Smaller, More Livable Asylum Seekers' Center in Wassenaar
The Cooperation Agreement stipulates that the asylum seekers’ center in Wassenaar will be downsized, with 150 reception spots under the Distribution Act serving as the starting point. Additional shelter places are possible if this results in fewer homes being needed to house status holders. It is important that the existing services at the asylum seeker center—such as counseling, health care, daytime activities, and security—be maintained. Wassenaar currently houses 930 asylum seekers. Under the agreements with other municipalities, that number will decrease to 890 in 2027–2028 and to 590 in 2029–2031. That number remains significantly higher than what the Distribution Act requires of the municipality of Wassenaar.
More public housing for Wassenaard residents
Under the proposed agreements, the municipalities of Rijswijk and Westland will provide housing for 48 status holders each year. That amounts to nearly 250 status holders over the next five years. This means that, in principle, no social housing units will be needed for status holders over the next five years. This will allow more residents of Wassenaar on the waiting list for social housing to find a home. This strengthens social cohesion, fosters a sense of fairness in the treatment of all individuals, and reduces the pressure on the social housing sector.
Agreements Regarding Unaccompanied Minor Foreign Nationals
Unaccompanied minor foreign nationals are no longer being housed in Wassenaar. An agreement has been reached with Leidschendam-Voorburg for that municipality to take over the housing of 10 unaccompanied minor foreign nationals. In exchange, Wassenaar will create 20 additional temporary asylum shelter spots at the existing asylum seekers’ center (AZC). As a result, the number of unaccompanied minor foreign nationals in Wassenaar will be reduced to 40 as of January 1, 2027. This shelter capacity will be phased out gradually and will end completely on March 12, 2028. In return, Wassenaar will create 20 additional temporary asylum shelter spots at the existing asylum center.
Agreements Regarding Displaced Persons from Ukraine
An agreement has been reached with Pijnacker-Nootdorp that this municipality will take over the reception of 110 Ukrainian displaced persons during the 2027–2028 period. In return, Wassenaar will provide 228 asylum reception spots. For the period 2029–2031, Pijnacker-Nootdorp will assume Wassenaar’s commitment to accommodate Ukrainian displaced persons, up to a maximum of 139 shelter spaces. In exchange, Wassenaar will create 190 shelter spaces for asylum seekers.
These agreements are subject to the terms of the agreements that the COA enters into with the owner of the AZC Wassenaar facility.