The asylum boat MS Fortuna has left the port of Huizen. Since October last year, the boat has been used as a temporary reception location for asylum seekers. A lot has happened during this period. Time for the Central Agency for Asylum Reception (COA) to take stock. “Of course it’s a pity, but I know that the municipality has done a lot for us,” says location manager Lioba van Dam.
On Monday, the mooring lines of the asylum boat came loose in the harbor of Huizen. In October last year, the asylum boat docked in Huizen to provide shelter for a maximum of 190 asylum seekers until March 2023. “The boat was very well welcomed. The Red Cross and COA were able to work well with the municipality,” says Van Dam.
During that period, the Huizers volunteers often came into action. For example, language buddies gave Dutch lessons on board and the asylum seekers were regularly allowed to kick a ball on the fields of football association SV Huizen. “It was a very nice integration in Huizen.”
That does not alter the fact that people had to wait a long time before they received a BSN number. About thirty residents therefore decided to protest at the town hall in January. Some had already been waiting a year for a BSN number, even though they wanted to get to work. Nevertheless, despite the demonstrators’ undertaking, the municipality stated in an evaluation that the reception went smoothly.
But when the COA made a request to the municipality to be allowed to lie down even longer, a number of Huizers anonymously wrote to let the municipality know that this was against the agreements. In the end, COA’s request was rejected and the ship sailed.
How further?
All residents have now received a BSN number and are accommodated at locations in Zaandam, Haarlem and Vledder, among others. 52 people have received a residence permit, and two of them have also received a home. “They left in a pretty good mood because they knew we took good care of them. I hope they are doing well now too,” says van Dam.
It is not yet clear whether the ship will be used again as a reception location or as a hotel boat on the European rivers. “We hope to know that within a few days, negotiations are currently underway.”