News item | 21-11-2025 | 3:00 PM
Harry Paul of ABDTOPConsult and current chairman Milo Schoenmaker of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) will conduct research into the future of Dutch migration policy. They do this on behalf of the Ministry of Asylum and Migration (AenM). Milo Schoenmaker will therefore step down as chairman of the COA board on January 1, 2026.
Schoenmaker has been chairman of the COA board since the beginning of 2019 and looks back on a wonderful and fascinating time at COA:
“I will miss the organization, but especially of course the people at COA. I have met so many extremely committed and hardworking employees, who do their best every day to provide humane shelter and guidance to people seeking protection. The challenges were and are enormous. When I started in 2019, we accommodated approximately 22,000 people, now almost 80,000. I am extremely proud of the organization and all employees, COA has really gained a place in my heart. To keep asylum reception humane and manageable, a clear future perspective is needed. I am very pleased that I can use my experience, together with Harry Paul, to investigate what is needed for this.”
The COA and the Ministries of JenV and AenM would like to thank Schoenmaker for his efforts and the way in which he fulfilled the position. The vacancy for chairman of the board will be opened as soon as possible. In the meantime, this position will be filled by board member Joeri Kapteijns.