Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Asylum seekers
Asylum seekers - Credit: Prazisss / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Politics
Arjen Leerkes
asylum policy
asylum seekers
Eritrea
EU asylum policy
Klaas Dijkhoff
lower house of parliament
Ministry of Security and Justice
refugee status
refugees
residency permit
Syria
Tweede Kamer
WODC
Thursday, 4 February 2016 - 08:05
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Netherlands asylum policy among strictest in EU

The Netherlands' asylum policy is one of the strictest in the European Union. In only five other European countries asylum seekers have less chance of getting refugee status than in the Netherlands, according to a study done by the WODC, Justice Ministry's scientific research and documentation center, the Volkskrant reports. The Netherlands does issue many residency permits, but that is because most of the asylum seekers arriving in the country are from Syria or Eritrea, instead of relatively safe countries in Eastern Europe and West Africa. A massive 91 percent of all Syrians and Eritreans requesting asylum in the Netherlands get refugee status. "The fear that the Netherlands is much more flexible than other countries appears to be unfounded", researcher Arjen Leekers said to the newspaper. "If you correct the percentage of residency permits to country of origin and compare it wit other countries, we turn out not to be exceptional in Europe." Countries like Germany, France and Denmark are less stringent than the Netherlands. After the results of this study, State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice wrote to parliament that the Netherlands, as EU President, will ensure that there is harmonization in the EU's asylum policy. This should prevent asylum seekers simply traveling to the country where they are most likely to be granted refugee status.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Fatal Zwijndrecht mall shooting trial starting May 2024; Girlfriend still paralyzed
  • Dutch court upholds Schengen ban for British conspiracy theorist David Icke
  • €380,000 from Oranje World Cup auction hasn't reached migrant workers in Qatar
  • TU Delft ranks in top 50 on 2024 Times Higher Education list; Six Dutch unis in top 100
  • Netherlands home to nine wolf packs: 39 pups born this spring
  • Center-left coalition set to take control of The Hague City Council

Top stories

  • TU Delft ranks in top 50 on 2024 Times Higher Education list; Six Dutch unis in top 100
  • Social housing rents could increase 5.8% next year; 4.9% increase in free sector
  • VVD under fire for pulling support for asylum distribution law
  • State Sec. orders NS to reconsider rush hour charge, seek alternatives
  • Bus and taxi collide in Friesland, injuring 14 adults & children; 4 critically hurt
  • Dutch Senate rejects Work from Home bill by a single vote

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content