The 16 municipalities in the North Holland North region are not in favor of Amsterdam’s proposal to provide additional status holders with a home. The capital itself wants to accommodate 1,200 additional asylum seekers, provided that the rest of the North Holland municipalities accommodate 1,200 additional status holders. But a letter to the province, which is in the possession of NH, states: “We simply see no room for an additional task.”
Every year, municipalities are given a task to house status holders, refugees with a residence permit. And for longer Amsterdam has major problems to get it done. The backlog has now increased to 1,360, while new requests are also being added.
Rijk thinks the Amsterdam plan is a good idea
Amsterdam therefore proposed an exchange. Space is scarce and accommodating asylum seekers is easier for the municipality than finding housing for status holders. Outgoing Minister De Jonge (Home Affairs) and outgoing State Secretary Van der Burg (asylum) also thought it was a good idea.
“Because both housing status holders and creating more reception locations are in the joint interest of the government and the municipality, the government supports this initiative,” is their response. The minister and state secretary indicate that they would also like to discuss this with the province and the municipalities.
But it is already clear that such a conversation makes little sense. Mayor Marjan van Kampen of Schagen says on behalf of the 16 municipalities in North Holland North that the region has already done a lot and is still doing so. She points to the reception of Ukrainians, the extra reception of asylum seekers last year, and also the more than requested accommodation for status holders.
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Housing more status holders cannot be explained
“Every region must hold up its own pants,” Van Kampen explains the region’s position. “We also have a housing shortage here. Then it is inexplicable that, in addition to what we are already doing, we will also accommodate status holders from Amsterdam.
There is also frustration about how the proposal came about. “That has been discussed with the ministry. And they then send a letter saying that it is a good idea. But if I make agreements with your boss about you, without having spoken to you, then you will also think that is strange. course of events?”
No extra money for Amsterdam
BBB MP Mona Keijzer has asked parliamentary questions about the proposal. In response to that outgoing Minister De Jonge (Home Affairs) and outgoing State Secretary Van der Burg (asylum) still think it is a good idea. It is also emphasized that Amsterdam will not receive more money if it receives an additional 1,200 asylum seekers.
BBB and the VVD also have this at provincial level questions submitted, as the province is the supervisor when it comes to housing status holders. They want clarification about the conditions behind the proposal. Although there is not much enthusiasm about the exchange.
“We are waiting for the answers to the Parliament questions. I understand Amsterdam, the municipality is leading the way in the reception of asylum seekers. But what I have less understanding for is that it seems as if this has been agreed in the back rooms. If you want a deal close, then you do this in consultation with each other,” says BBB faction leader in North Holland, Ingrid de Sain.
There are simply few houses here. It seems like that is sometimes forgotten
The resident of Schellinkhout in West Frisian is surprised that the lack of housing is used as an argument. “If it is said: there is no space here. Who says that there is in other places?” De Sain responds. “There are just few houses here. It seems as if that is sometimes forgotten.”
Can the Amsterdam proposal go ahead after all?
With the rejection of Noord-Holland Noord, the plan is not completely over. In a response, the province stated that agreements may still be made with other regions.
“The provincial steering table is still waiting for responses from the other four regions. We expect input from the regions of Amsterdam-Amstelland, Gooi and Vechtstreek, Kennemerland and Zaanstreek-Waterland this month. We are currently conducting administrative discussions with the municipality of Amsterdam and the The municipality of Amsterdam is also working on an action plan to eliminate the backlog in the field of housing status holders,” said the spokesperson.
Mayor Marjan van Kampen also does not know what will happen next. “I am not aware of what other regions think about it. If there are other municipalities that want to make agreements in the same way as Amsterdam, then that is of course fine. But we are not going to cooperate.”
The municipality of Amsterdam has also been asked for a response, but has not yet responded.
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