The dispersal law, which should ensure that the number of shelter places in the Netherlands is distributed more fairly, will come into effect on February 1. However, this does not mean that municipalities can be forced to receive asylum seekers from that moment on. This will be the case from 2025 onwards.
The distribution of the estimated number of shelter places among municipalities in the twelve provinces should be ready by the end of this year. The Minister of Justice and Security will make an official decision on the distribution on December 31, after which municipalities have a maximum of six months to arrange the shelter places.
At the beginning of February, provinces will hear how many places they have to arrange. It is not the case that asylum reception has to be provided in all municipalities, because the province first discusses the options with the municipalities. On November 1, the twelve provinces must report whether municipalities offer sufficient places to meet the target.
If it is not possible to spread the number of imposed shelter places, the ministry can increase the pressure. Ultimately, a province or municipality may be forced, but that will not be until sometime in 2025. The minister can then designate a location where asylum seekers should be received.
The dispersal law concerns regular reception places or places for young single asylum seekers (AMVs). If there are enough regular asylum centers, (crisis) emergency shelter in sports halls, holiday parks, boats and other temporary locations is no longer or less necessary. Asylum reception had been reduced in recent years, while more asylum seekers are now coming.
That is why the now outgoing State Secretary for Asylum Eric van der Burg, his officials and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) had to put a lot of energy into persuading municipalities to arrange temporary emergency accommodation. This shelter leaves much to be desired, due to poor hygiene and little privacy. This care is also bad for children. The judge and the inspectorate have issued scathing opinions on this on several occasions.
Van der Burg devised the dispersal law in 2022, when the asylum crisis was at its peak, because the need was great. Nearly half of the 342 municipalities still do little or nothing about asylum reception. The dispersal law may lead to smaller reception locations. This can be a good thing in municipalities, because they often dread large numbers of asylum seekers at the same time. Municipalities do not have to wait for the deadlines, but can get started immediately, the State Secretary hopes.
Municipalities receive money from the government for shelter. If they voluntarily receive more asylum seekers than necessary, they receive a bonus.