The Municipality of Voorschoten Extends the Term of the Emergency Shelter

In recent weeks, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has once again been facing a high influx of asylum seekers. Due to this increased influx this fall and existing facilities that are at or beyond capacity, the need for housing for asylum seekers and status holders is particularly acute. The COA has stated that the emergency shelter at the Van der Valk hotel in Voorschoten is an important part of the reception process. The collaboration between the municipality of Voorschoten and the COA is going well. For this reason, the COA has requested that the municipal executive extend the emergency shelter in Voorschoten under the same conditions.

Extension of the deadline

Following a residents’ meeting with local residents, the municipality has decided to extend the term of the emergency shelter one more time, until no later than December 1, 2025. The target group for the extension is, in principle, the same group already staying at the hotel. These are status holders awaiting permanent housing in another municipality and/or family members joining them for family reunification. This is a group of people with prospects for the future in the Netherlands.

Severe shortage of childcare spots

Alderman Hans van der Elst: “Unfortunately, we’re still seeing a significant nationwide shortage of housing at asylum seeker centers (AZCs). One reason for this is that status holders have to wait a long time for permanent housing. As a result, they stay at the COA’s AZCs longer than planned, effectively ‘occupying’ those spots. The municipality of Voorschoten is happy to once again do its part to address this social problem and relieve the pressure on the AZCs. We are doing this by extending the temporary emergency shelter at the Van der Valk hotel on a one-time basis.”

New Developments

On Saturday, November 18, the COA asked the municipality of Voorschoten to urgently arrange temporary emergency shelter for 38 women and children at Van der Valk. These are not status holders or family members joining them, but asylum seekers. Today, the municipal executive approved this request. This emergency shelter will open on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, and will last for a maximum of two weeks. After that, these asylum seekers will be transferred to a permanent COA shelter. The total number of shelter spots at Van der Valk in Voorschoten will remain at a maximum of 200.

More information

For more information about the temporary emergency shelter, residents can visit the municipal website. Other questions can be submitted via email at gemeente@voorschoten.nl or by calling 14071. For reports and complaints directly related to the shelter, residents can contact the COA site manager at 06-52475188.