Such restrictions mean that available seats remain empty, even if they are badly needed. “The bed places are currently empty due to restrictions on the placement of target groups or other agreements with the municipalities,” writes the state secretary. The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) ‘desperately needs’ those posts.
Without restrictions
Van der Burg calls once again on the municipalities not to apply any restrictions. If they continue to do so, in the “extreme case” asylum seekers will still be placed in reception places where municipalities only wish to welcome women and children, for example, or impose other conditions on the arrival of asylum seekers.
Van der Burg understands “the social dynamics that arriving somewhere can bring about”, but the Netherlands cannot afford restrictions in this asylum crisis.