The asylum seekers’ center in Budel will eventually make way for Defense, RTL Nieuws reports Thursday afternoon. The rental contract of the complex will expire in 2028, after which the Ministry of Defense wants to return the former barracks area. Residents of Budel respond relieved to the news on Thursday afternoon. “This is good for the village.”
“In 2018 I was still protesting here so that the AZC would not get there,” says a man on the terrace in Budel. He even drinks a beer to celebrate the departure, he explains. “There has been a lot of nuisance here and that has only gotten out of hand in recent years. So I am happy when the peace comes back.”
“It took a long time,” another man agrees. “It is actually a small group that has to ruin it for the others. Everything was stolen and people are intimidated on the street, especially at Maarheeze station.”
“Many residents will be happy.”
The AZC in the village has been a tricky point for various residents for a long time. For example, a residents’ survey, for example, showed that 70 percent of the respondents have sometimes had a nuisance from the AZC. Mayor Ronald van Kessel also saw in 2019 that it was sanding into the municipality. “I feel that the support is crumbling.”
Last year the mayor called on the Minister of Asylum and Migration, Marjolein Faber, to take measures against the nuisance. That didn’t happen.
Also a young man who is on the way to the supermarket hopes that the departure of the AZC will take care of peace in the village. “That is especially welcome at the station and in the stores,” he says. He also worked for a while in a supermarket in the village. “Stolen more often, at least once a month.”
“I think it’s good for the village, many inhabitants will be happy,” says a woman with curls, while she comes out of the supermarket with a fully loaded shopping cart. “The problem transcends the village. I have no experience with it myself, but you hear it a lot.”
“Those people should be taken care of somewhere else.”
“We have many military barracks in Brabant anyway, even the biggest in Oirschot,” De Jongeman continues. “I think it is only good to expand that considerably. Training is already being done at the area.”
On Friday, the government will officially take the decision to give Defense more rehearsal room in Budel. The armed forces wants more room to practice and to store ammunition.
At first it was true that there could be both a defense and a reception location at the barracks. That now seems to be off the track. “This also answers the wish from the region to make a clear choice,” Defense told Rtl.
But not everyone is already aware of the departure of the AZC and the arrival of Defense on Thursday afternoon, an older man who cycles past. “Oh, I didn’t know that yet,” he says. “On the one hand, I like it, but those people should be taken care of somewhere else.”
Defense is welcome according to the man. But whether the problems have been solved forever? “Is it not one or the other,” he laughs. “You also suffer from soldiers when there are a lot. It always stays something.”
