This Wednesday is the day when 250 asylum seekers will move into the former Mövenpick hotel in Den Bosch. Much to the dismay of the residents in the Gestelse neighborhood. They see their problem neighborhood finally improving a bit and fear that the asylum reception will detract from this. “We have been the drain of Den Bosch for years,” is the grumbling sound. The lawyer for the local residents sees a pattern and speaks of a ‘robbery technique’.
In October last year, after a long and difficult search, the Municipal Executive announced the locations for two temporary asylum seekers’ centers. Both in Den Bosch-Zuid. “I can imagine that it has an impact if 600 new people come to live in your neighborhood. But I hope that with the chosen places I also offer some reassurance,” Mayor Jack Mikkers said at the time.
But the residents of the Gestelse neighborhood are anything but reassured. They worry about their safety. The neighborhood has been a source of concern for years due to prevailing poverty, drug trafficking and addicted people. A ten-year plan was therefore launched in 2020 to improve the neighborhood, with success.
“We have been the drain of Den Bosch for years. Our neighborhood is slowly recovering, but if two asylum seeker centers are opened, we will be back to square one,” says local resident Jolanda van de Vorstenbosch (58). In such a large group of refugees there are always a few troublemakers, local residents predict.
“We are not against asylum seekers in the neighborhood. But 600 is just too much. With all the problems we already have, our neighborhood cannot cope with this,” a local resident pleaded with the judge on Monday.
“Municipalities are using robbery tactics.”
The neighborhood only had its first opportunity to officially object a week ago. This happened immediately after the municipality had granted a permit to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).
Local residents and owners of buildings in the office park filed summary proceedings against the shelter in the former hotel. It only provided some delay. The summary proceedings judge stated on Monday that 250 asylum seekers would end up on the streets if action was not taken quickly. The permit was therefore justified and the neighborhood was left behind.
Lawyer Danny Snijders, who is assisting local residents in the case, now sees a pattern. “Municipalities use robbery tactics. Ultimately, a final decision is made at the very last minute. That decision will then take effect immediately. This means that local residents are being taken by surprise and they have to respond quickly, otherwise buses will start running.”
“No objections were taken into account.”
At the end of last year, the court also suspended the permit granted by the municipality of Maashorst for the reception of asylum seekers in a hotel in Uden.
Even then, local residents first wanted the opportunity to object to that decision. The court agreed. Snijders, who is also a lawyer in this case: “There are similarities between the two cases. For example, both municipalities acted too late and objections were not taken into account in both cases.”
Yet Snijders was unable to stop the arrival of asylum seekers in Uden and Den Bosch. The Van der Valk hotel in Uden is currently receiving 300 refugees.
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