Additional Emergency Shelter for Status Holders and Family Reunification Immigrants

Since July, the municipality of Voorschoten has been working with the COA to accommodate 120 status holders and family members at the Van der Valk Hotel De Gouden Leeuw on Veurseweg. The status holders and family members are staying at the hotel temporarily until they are assigned housing in another municipality or can be reunited with their families. The COA recently asked the municipality to provide additional shelter spaces.

80 additional childcare spots

Cooperation between the COA (Central Advisory Board for Asylum Seekers) and the municipality is going well, as is the emergency shelter at the Van der Valk Hotel De Gouden Leeuw. Nationwide, there is still a significant shortage of shelter spaces at asylum seeker centers (AZCs). The COA therefore requested that the municipality provide additional shelter spaces at the end of August. In response, the municipality decided to provide 80 additional shelter spots at the current emergency shelter location, the Van der Valk Hotel De Gouden Leeuw. With this decision, the municipality is offering the COA space for a total of 200 status holders and family members joining them until February 1, 2023. With this expansion, the municipality has reached its maximum capacity for shelter spots.

Severe shortage of childcare spots

Given the severe shortage of housing spaces at asylum seeker centers (AZCs) throughout the country, many spaces in the COA’s AZCs are currently still being “held” by status holders—asylum seekers with a residence permit—who are waiting for permanent housing in another municipality. By organizing temporary housing, the municipality of Voorschoten is helping to relieve the pressure on the AZCs and accelerate the integration of status holders into Dutch society.

More information

On September 20, the municipality, in collaboration with the COA, is organizing an informational meeting for residents living immediately adjacent to the Van der Valk hotel. Residents living immediately adjacent to the hotel will receive an invitation letter at . For more information, residents can visit the municipal website, which includes frequently asked questions and answers. Other questions can be directed to the municipality via email at gemeente@voorschoten.nl or by phone at 14071. For reports and complaints directly related to the reception center, residents can contact the COA site manager via FMMZVoorschotenNO@coa.nl or by phone at 06-21863192.