On the cruise ship Silja Europa, rooms are occupied by asylum seekers who do not live there at all. That is what Ekrem and Avni, themselves asylum seekers on the ship, tell NH Nieuws. The men estimate that about five percent of the cabins on board are not occupied, but are kept occupied. The COA reacts with surprise to the story.
Avni and Ekrem come walking from the VOB quay. Ekrem in a red-black sweater and Avni in his blue hoodie, both with a backpack on. They come off the ship and are on their way to Beverwijk station.
Avni explains that neither of them live on the boat. “I live in Hilversum with family. I have to come back to the ship every Tuesday to get a scribble. I don’t really know what that is for.” Ekrem also has to report to the ship every week for an autograph, while he lives elsewhere with friends.
Both asylum seekers have been allocated a cabin by the COA on board the Silja Europa. It’s a mystery to Avni and Ekrem why. “I also told COA: ‘I don’t need that hut’. Yet I got it and it is now empty, but I will keep it occupied. I find it very strange,” said Avni.
“I think about five percent of the rooms on board are occupied”
A spokesperson for the COA reacts as follows: “That is a crazy story. I do not know how it is possible that someone who reports has not been heard by us. I have to make further inquiries about that.”
The men discuss with each other for a while and then make an estimate. “I think about five percent of the rooms on board are occupied but not used. Those people are in the same situation as us and live elsewhere.”
Not desirable
The COA is surprised by this story and according to the spokesperson, location manager Hanneke Niele is not aware of the situation.
According to the spokesperson, it is ‘not desirable’ for asylum seekers to live elsewhere. “It is not a prison ship, they are also allowed to sleep with relatives, but they are not supposed to stay elsewhere. If we come across this on the ship, we will start a conversation with the people who do not stay here.”
The COA indicates that asylum seekers can formally relinquish their place within an asylum seekers centre. It is unclear to the COA how it is possible that the men indicate that the COA does nothing with their comments, according to the spokesperson.