The reception location would be located between the Randweg and the N201. This is in the area of the municipality of Amstelveen, but also on the border of the neighboring municipality of Uithoorn.
Asylum councilor José de Robles of Uithoorn was not pleased with Amstelveen’s choice for that location and threatened to legal action. “If the municipality of Amstelveen issues a permit for this location, we will object to it. We have legal assistance for this,” he previously explained to NH.
‘Indecent’ location
He was afraid that the 280 future residents would move to Uithoorn for their leisure activities and shopping. The built-up area of Uithoorn is right next to it, while that of Amstelveen is much further away.
He also called the location ‘indecent’. “Uithoorn is not against asylum reception, but it is against this location. You cannot house people next to the busy N201 and between the noise of aircraft.”
Shelter does not meet ‘minimum conditions’
But now the COA has announced that the location does not meet the ‘minimum conditions for safe and effective reception of asylum seekers’.
In the press release in which Amstelveen announces that the shelter is being closed, the municipality talks about ‘constructive discussions’ that have recently been had with Uithoorn, the COA and the province. “It has always been made clear from Uithoorn in this consultation that this location was not the right place for an asylum seekers’ center.”
We previously made a report about the possible arrival of the asylum seekers’ center in Amstelveen-Zuid, which you can view below.