Asylum seeker centers such as the location in Ter Apel are regularly in the news and usually in a negative way. Today, on National Neighbors Day, six locations in Drenthe where asylum seekers are accommodated open their doors to offer local residents a look behind the scenes.
One of the asylum seeker centers participating is the one in Paterswolde, which has been open since December 2021 and can accommodate a maximum of 148 asylum seekers.
“We participate because we think it is important to have cooperation and interaction with the neighborhood. We also want to give local residents the opportunity to see what is going on and happening at a location,” says location manager Rob Bulthuis.
Residents are actively involved in the activities for the open day. For example, there is the opportunity for local residents to smoke a hookah and have a henna tattoo. “We as an organization facilitate the open day. But it is organized for and by the residents. They are therefore involved in the activities at the location,” says Bulthuis.
Soon after the first local residents have walked onto the site, a joint dance between local residents and residents begins in the hall of the asylum seekers’ centre.
Local resident John Klip calls the atmosphere very good. He comes to show his face as a former volunteer; he repaired bicycles and helped the residents learn words. He was already familiar with the location before it became an asylum seekers’ center, because his son used to go to school at what was previously called the Bladergroenschool. “The children who live here call me grandpa and that moves me.”
Klip emphasizes that there has only been one incident since the opening. “I think that’s a plus for this location, that they have so much control over everything.”
Every day, the residents of the asylum seeker center walk through the neighborhood without any problems. “The first time they always say ‘salam aleikum’ and then I answer that too. But the second time I say very clearly ‘good morning’ and then the next time they also say ‘good morning’,” says Klip.
Despite the rain, the open day in Paterswolde attracted approximately 160 visitors.