Frequently asked questions and answers about the emergency shelter in Voorschoten

In June 2022, the cabinet decided to establish a national crisis structure for asylum reception because the registration center in Ter Apel was constantly overcrowded and the reception and support of asylum seekers were under strain. One of the measures the cabinet has taken is to expedite the transfer of asylum seekers who have been granted residence status—those with a “ licence ” (permanent residence permit)—from their current asylum reception centers to another location. The State Secretary therefore asked all safety regions in the Netherlands in June 2022 to provide 225 spots for emergency crisis shelter per safety region. In our safety region, we have distributed this across several municipalities. The Municipal Executive of Voorschoten ( executive board ) has decided to cooperate with this request. In July, the municipality agreed with the COA that, from July 26, 2022, through January 26, 2023, 120 status holders and family reunification migrants would be accommodated at Hotel Van der Valk De Gouden Leeuw.
Although our security region and many other security regions have met their initial target of creating 225 emergency crisis shelter spots, the COA was still facing a significant shortage of shelter spots in August 2022. The Association of Netherlands Municipalities, the Security Council, the Interprovincial Consultation, and the national government therefore reached several administrative agreements on August 26, 2022, regarding the migration flow. Part of these administrative agreements is that each security region—in addition to the previously agreed-upon emergency shelter spaces—will create another 225 emergency shelter spaces. The COA has requested that the municipality of Voorschoten provide 80 additional shelter spots for status holders and family reunification migrants at the current emergency shelter location, the Van der Valk Hotel De Gouden Leeuw. The municipality has decided to comply with this request until February 1, 2023. In December 2022, the COA indicated that the pressure on refugee reception remains unprecedentedly high, and that securing sufficient reception capacity is extremely complex. The closure of temporary shelter facilities, combined with an increased influx and delayed outflow of refugees, poses major challenges for the COA. The COA has indicated that the emergency shelter at the Van der Valk hotel in Voorschoten is a crucial link in the reception process. For these reasons, the COA has requested that the Municipality of Voorschoten ( executive board ) extend the emergency shelter in Voorschoten under the same conditions. Following a positive community meeting with local residents, the municipality has decided to extend the term of the emergency shelter until December 1, 2023.

As soon as an asylum seeker is recognized as a refugee and is allowed to stay in the Netherlands, they receive a temporary residence licence for a period of five years. A refugee with a residence licence is called a 'status holder' or 'licence holder'.

Dependent family members are family members of the status holder or permit holder who are granted a temporary residence permit under special Requirements . Family reunification is the process of bringing a family together.

The status holders and rejoining travellers will be accommodated in Hotel Van der Valk until December 1, 2023.

No, the status holders and family-reunification travellers are linked to another municipality for permanent housing. As soon as another municipality makes a home available, they will move there. Once departures occur and spaces become available, the COA arranges the influx of new residents. The status holders and family-reunification travellers do not stay permanently in Voorschoten.

Asylum seekers, recognized refugees, and/or family members joining them are being accommodated in municipalities such as Alphen -aan-den-Rijn, Leiden, Gouda, Oegstgeest, Nieuwkoop, and Katwijk, among others. In our safety region, we share this responsibility.

The COA endeavours to achieve a balanced composition of status holders and family-reunification travellers regarding origin, gender, age, and family situation. Influx is the determining factor here.

The COA guarantees 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week supervision, as well as the presence of security guards and emergency response team members at the reception center. In the evening and at night, the COA’s on-call service is available in case of emergencies. The municipality and the COA hold regular consultations. The mayor has the “ authorisation ” to impose a local exclusion order on a resident causing serious disturbances, thereby making that person no longer welcome in Voorschoten.

The COA is responsible for the costs of the emergency shelter places.

Hotel Van der Valk made 60 double rooms available for emergency shelter starting in July 2022, and 100 starting in October 2022.

As soon as the COA needs volunteers, it notifies the municipality and community organizations such as Voorschoten voor Elkaar and VluchtelingenWerk. The COA may impose certain req Requirements s on volunteers, such as providing a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent behaviour). Residents who wish to volunteer can sign up withVrijwilligvoorschoten (external link) orVluchtelingenWerk (external link). When signing up, please indicate that you wish to volunteer at the reception center in Voorschoten.
Residents can also sign up to be a language buddy through the Taalhuis at the library. To do so, call071-5615678, send an email totaal@obvw.nl, or fill out the online registration form on theTaalhuis website(external link).

If you experience nuisance, you can report it by email or telephone to the COA via FMMZVoorschotenNO@coa.nl or the telephone number 06-21863192.

You can contact the municipality by email or phone via gemeente@voorschoten.nl or phone number 14071.