Organizer ‘overwhelmed’ as crowdfunding for asylum-seeker youths tops €115,000

The organizer of a crowdfunding campaign for children in Dutch asylum centers said Saturday he was “completely overwhelmed” after his fundraiser surged past 115,000 euros, following the cancellation of a planned trip to the Efteling amusement park.

Aad Brinkman, who launched the campaign earlier this week, said the public response far exceeded anything he expected. “It’s a very powerful message. I truly did not expect this,” he said. “I’m completely overwhelmed.”

Brinkman set up the fundraiser after Dutch Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber spoke out against a planned Efteling outing for young asylum-seeker residents of Sint Annaparochie. COA, the national agency responsible for managing asylum seeker accommodations, had organized the trip but canceled it after Faber called it a misuse of taxpayer funds, labeling it a “pleasure trip.”

“I started this campaign out of frustration over Faber’s comment,” Brinkman said. “She said it was inexplicable that public money would go to what she sees as a luxury trip for asylum-seeker youths.”

Brinkman emphasized that funding that specific outing was never his primary goal. “It’s about supporting all asylum-seeker children—traumatized children who have the right to be children. That’s why people donated,” he said.

As of 6 p.m. Saturday, his campaign alone had raised more than 115,000 euros. Across six similar initiatives, donations had surpassed 150,000 euros, with the majority of funds flowing through Brinkman’s effort.

“I hope COA says: we can do something beautiful with this for children in asylum centers,” he said. Brinkman has not yet spoken with COA but hopes to make contact after the long weekend. “If nothing comes of it, everyone gets their money back,” he said.

COA confirmed earlier Saturday that the amusement park trip would not go ahead. “The visit to the amusement park has been canceled,” the agency said. Despite that, it stated it is coordinating with various foundations to ensure donated funds are used effectively. “We’ll make sure the donated money is put to good use,” COA said.

The now-scrapped trip had been planned as a preventive measure to reduce tensions during the upcoming village festival in Sint Annaparochie. Last year, the event saw a violent confrontation between local youth and asylum-seeker residents that left three local young men injured. Three asylum-seeker residents were transferred out of the area afterward.

Brinkman said the campaign has drawn both support and backlash. “I’ve received dozens of hateful and threatening messages,” he said. Critics accused him of supporting individuals “who carry knives.” He rejected that criticism flatly. “I abhor those messages. This is about the children.”