Mayor Frank Dales thinks it is ‘an enrichment of the decision-making process’ to let Velsen-Noorders themselves vote on a longer stay for the thousand asylum seekers on the asylum boat on the edge of the village. The plebiscite was not his own plan, he says. “Ultimately it is up to the city council to make a final judgement, based on the results,” he says in an interview.
Today, the college of mayor and aldermen decided that the ship, due to the time needed for the plebiscite, is still safe remains until April 16. That is one and a half months longer than the agreed end date of 1 March.
Watch the interview here: