The possible arrival of fifty minor refugees to Zuidwolde is bad at a part of the village. The opponents in particular stabs the number.
The municipality of De Wolden wants to turn group accommodation De Steenbergerhoeve into a reception location. Alderman Rudi Hooch Antink (Gemeentebelangen): “It is a beautifully centrally located location that is close to various social facilities.”
In addition, the alderman complements that there will be no means of the number of fifty asylum seekers. “That is the minimum number of asylum seekers that you have to catch up according to COA. We also had the choice to catch groups of fifteen people at three different locations, but that would cause even more unrest in the village. That is why we opted for fifty people in a central location.”
If the city council agrees, young people live in the Steenbergerhoeve for the next five years. It mainly concerns young people (15, 16 and 17 years old) from Syria, Eritrea and Somalia. They came to the Netherlands without guidance from a parent, they traveled with other adults or other young people. They are referred to as unaccompanied minor aliens (AMV).
“The demand for reception places for this specific target group is very high,” says the municipality. Reception and guidance is in the hands of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). There is guidance and security available at the location 24 hours a day.
The young people will be taught in the International Switch Class (ISK) of the RSG Wolfsbos in Hoogeveen. And just like many youth from Zuidwolde, they go to Hoogeveen by bike if possible.
Jeanine Otten does not see that, she is one of the Zuidwoldigers behind the Hart voor Zuidwolde action group. She takes to the streets to collect signatures to bring her views to the attention of villagers who don’t get it on social media. “With the signatures we want to show that more people disagree.”
“We fear nuisance,” she says, for local residents, among others. “I work in a supermarket myself, and you can also have to deal with problems.” Otten hopes that the plans will be reduced. “We can live well with fifteen, but fifty is really too much.”
Jouke Wijnstra thinks that too. He lives near the Steenbergerhoeve and has been trying to make it clear for months that not everyone is waiting for fifty AMV people.
He is afraid of intimidation and the safety of school -going youth. Noise pollution from the group of young people is also a reason for him to make himself heard. Wijnstra: “It is the fear of the unknown. It doesn’t have to happen, but it will just happen. You can still prevent it a bit by applying small scale.”
He points out guidelines that the municipality itself drawn up last year, which are sent to fifteen places for AMV people. “The problem is the quantity. Those guys can be helped, but fifty is too much.”
“We try to do everything we can to move politics back to the drawing board,” says Joustra. With banners, flyers and a website the displeasure is expressed. “Quickly push through, will not work anymore.”
In March the city council would debate about the shelter. But the mayor and aldermen announced after the protests needed longer for the plans. There must be clarity before the summer. “We keep talking to the residents, but the number of changes will no longer happen,” says Alderman Hooch Antink.