The origin of the frustrations goes back to the beginning of 2022, when local residents at the Fuik in Hoogwoud agreed to set up a temporary shelter for Ukrainians in the West Frisian village.
According to local residents, the promise was from the municipality that the shelter would be small -scale and temporary. “All these agreements have not been fulfilled,” says a resident who speaks on behalf of the neighborhood, in conversation with NH.
The recent letter from the municipality, in which it was announced that the shelter is being extended, came for local residents as a thunderbolt in clear sky. There would always have been a maximum period of two years. “We are sewn where we are,” says the resident honestly. “The state of affairs is not good for trust in politics.”
The emotions are now running high. “Why is it that you are treated like this, while as a neighborhood you have always been so cooperating?”
Extra beds
In addition to extending the shelter, the municipality is expanding the number of sleeping places from 58 to 67. According to the municipality, the extra beds are needed because the influx of Ukrainian refugees – more than two and a half years after the outbreak of the war with Russia – is still increasing.
For that reason, the government commissioned the municipality of Opmeer to compensate for more Ukrainians in 2025. “We have no problem with the reception of Ukrainian refugees,” emphasizes the people. “But the municipality has made it that we are now against any form of care at this location.”
Multiple locations investigated
The municipality of Opmeer says that several locations have been investigated for the shelter. The Originally intended – In addition to the asylum seekers’ center in Opmeer – has since been gone. Two other locations in the village have also lost weight. “We want to keep these locations free for housing,” explains Alderman Herman ter Veen.
The municipality wants to place forty new, sustainable living units at the current daycare site, De Weijver sports park. According to the municipalities, the current units on the spot are in ‘very bad condition’ and to replacement. The units are also intended for Ukrainians who are now staying in other places in the municipality and can in principle remain 15 years old.
It is then up to the city council what will happen to the residential units. “But they are so good quality that they can last much longer. At most about 30 years,” VVD member Co Schipper said earlier.
To court
The municipality wants to make around 3.6 million euros available to make housing possible. A large part of this becomes financed by the empire.
If everything goes according to plan, the municipality of Opmeer expects to be able to place the units in July. After the summer, the Ukrainians will move in. A local resident just doesn’t see that happening. The neighborhood intends to go to court. “Consulting with the municipality makes no sense,” said the resident.
NH has asked the municipality for a response, but has not yet received an answer.