It seems that Nederhorst den Berg will get an asylum seekers center. The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has set its sights on a site in the Horstermeerpolder, the municipality of Wijdemeren is open to cooperating and will talk about it with residents. When the asylum seekers’ center is built, a maximum of 350 asylum seekers must be accommodated for up to ten years.
There has been talk behind closed doors about the arrival of an asylum seekers center in Nederhorst den Berg. If the asylum seekers’ center is built, it should open next year at the earliest. The final decision will be made just before or after the summer.
As far as the municipality of Wijdemeren is concerned, such an asylum seekers’ center would be welcome. The main reason given is mainly the aid to the refugees themselves. In addition, the municipality will more than meet the agreements with the asylum seekers center when it comes to receiving asylum seekers.
It is not clear in advance which asylum seekers should be accommodated. That depends on which asylum seekers report to the application center in Ter Apel. Wijdemeren sets conditions for a ‘humane reception’ and puts pressure on the COA to put together a ‘balanced’ composition of the group of asylum seekers to be received.
Building suitable
Wijdemeren now barely has room to receive asylum seekers, but transforming the site of the former radio receiving station on Radioweg – which COA has therefore set its sights on – would be very suitable for an asylum seekers’ centre.
Existing buildings can be used and new building blocks can be built without too many problems.
The buildings that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers has set its sights on. Text continues below.
Conversations with residents
The arrival of an asylum seekers’ center is a sensitive issue, the municipality realizes. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that there are risks to public order and safety in or around the asylum seekers’ centre.
In the coming months, the municipality will talk to local residents. At least four hundred local residents were informed of the plans just before the weekend. In addition to residents, talks are held with shopkeepers, schools, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.