COA Asks the Municipality of Voorschoten for Patience
In addition to the long-term accommodation of status holders and family members joining them at the Van der Valk hotel, the municipality agreed with the COA that asylum seekers could also stay there temporarily. This applied to the period from Tuesday, November 21, through Tuesday, December 5, for a group of 38 women and children. On Thursday, February 1, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) informed the municipality by email that this group of asylum seekers is still staying at the Van der Valk Hotel. The municipality is considering how to address the situation.
Last November, the COA asked the municipality of Voorschoten to urgently arrange temporary emergency shelter for 38 women and children. These asylum seekers were then to be transferred to a permanent COA shelter. After the municipal executive agreed to this, the municipality housed the group at the Van der Valk hotel. Contrary to what was agreed upon, the COA has so far been unable to relocate the group to another location.
“The reason lies in the lack of sufficient shelter spaces and the heavy pressure in Ter Apel and Budel,” explains COA manager Ron van Ooijen. “There will still be no options to house these asylum seekers elsewhere in the coming weeks. We are doing our very best to have another shelter in place by the May break at the latest. I apologize for the situation that has arisen and hope for the understanding of the municipality of Voorschoten.”
In an initial brief statement, Councilman Hans van der Elst said: “We are assessing the situation that has arisen. We only recently learned of this news. The city council and local residents will be informed of the situation as soon as possible.”