Reception of asylum seekers

There is a great shortage of reception places for asylum seekers in the Netherlands. The municipality of Aalten wants to offer a safe place to people who have had to leave everything behind because of war violence, discrimination or terror. That is why the municipal executive committee, in cooperation with the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), wants to facilitate the establishment of a temporary reception location for asylum seekers in Aalten .

City council meetings political-administrative frameworks for reception of asylum seekers in municipality of Aalten

The city council decided earlier (May 27) that the college will not hold any more talks with COA about a possible location for the time being. The council first wants to establish clear agreements and Requirements (frameworks) for itself. These include, for example:

  • How many shelters there should be in the municipality of Aalten ,
  • What requirements and Requirements are placed on a site,
  • and what further arrangements are needed.

Once the council has decided on these issues, the college makes a concrete proposal to go with them.

Read what has been shared about this process previously.

Your opinion on the Requirements the reception of asylum seekers in the municipality of Aalten

The municipal council of Aalten is working on Requirements the reception of asylum seekers. The council is doing this because, according to the Distribution Act, every municipality has a duty to receive people who apply for asylum. For the municipality of Aalten, this means that at least 200 reception places must be created.

What has happened so far?

Proposal by the municipal executive and concerns from the community
In the spring, the municipal executive announced its intention to create 300 childcare places at the Singel 2 location in Aalten. The municipal council received many questions and concerns from residents about this. These included:

  • Safety in and around a future asylum seekers' center,
  • the number of childcare places,
  • the location mentioned,
  • the type of care,
  • the pressure on Health social services,
  • and young people's chances of finding a starter home.

The city council therefore decided in May that the municipal executive would temporarily halt further development of the plans. First, the council wants Requirements clear frameworks and Requirements itself.

Discussions with COA, college, and within the council

In October, the council began a series of meetings to gather detailed information.

  • The council entered into discussions with the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and the municipal executive about the national task and possible forms of reception.
  • The council factions then held discussions with each other in deliberative meetings to weigh up interests and give direction to the Requirements.

Together, these discussions form the substantive basis for the frameworks that the council wishes to establish.

Initiative proposal from three political groups

Three of the seven council factions have now drawn up an initiative proposal with an initial elaboration of the frameworks. This proposal is intended as a basis for the continuation of the decision-making process.

Give your opinion on the council's proposal

The city council considers it important that residents have a say before a decision is made. There are two ways you can respond.

1. Speaking during a meeting

On Thursday, February 12, the council will hold an exploratory meeting. Residents are welcome to speak at this meeting.
Would you like to speak? Please register by Monday, February 9, 10:00 a.m. at the latest via Municipal Clerk’s Office and state:

  • your name
  • address
  • phone number
  • email address

You have 5 minutes to speak. Council members may ask you clarifying questions.

If there are many registrations, an additional informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 11. In that case, you will be notified.

To ensure that the meeting runs smoothly, speakers are divided into time slots. After speaking, they leave the meeting.

You cannot speak without registering. The meetings are not open to the public, but can be followed via the website.

2. Respond in writing

You can also share your opinion with the council in writing. Please send an email to the city council via Municipal Clerk’s Office.

What happens next?

The Municipal Executive will provide a written response to the initiative proposal. This response is expected to be available around February 9. It will then be added to the documents.

After that, the proposal will in principle be discussed with all relevant information at an (extra) city council meeting on February 25.

Only then will the council start looking for suitable locations within the municipality to accommodate asylum seekers.