On Saturday, visitors can look inside more than sixty reception centers for asylum seekers. During the annual Open azc day, there are guided tours, information markets, tastings, workshops, performances and other activities between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., according to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).
Regular asylum seekers centers participate, but also reception locations for minor asylum seekers and emergency reception locations. It is not possible to look inside the Ter Apel application centre.
The open day is organized during National Neighbors Day by COA, the Netherlands Refugee Agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) and the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V). With the special day, the organizations want to draw attention to the residents of the reception locations.
Crisis
“Recently, the crisis in asylum reception has mainly been visible. During the Open azc day, visitors can experience up close what life and work looks like in the reception, receive an explanation of how the asylum procedure works and get to know residents of the asylum themselves. reception locations.”
Each asylum seekers’ center has its own program on the open day. In Winterswijk, for example, a DJ plays Arab and North African hits, there is a volleyball tournament in Den Helder and the Iranian DJ duo Vessbroz performs in Grave. The asylum seekers’ center in the municipality of Gilze en Rijen is visited by State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum and Migration).
The COA reports that there are now 150 reception locations, 72 of which are temporary. In total, almost 43,000 people are accommodated. Most residents still have to go through the asylum procedure. 17,000 people already have a residence permit and are still waiting for housing. Approximately 6000 people stay in temporary emergency shelter locations of municipalities.