Half of Dutch back law requiring municipalities to host asylum seekers

About half of the Dutch population believes the national government should be able to require municipalities to host asylum seekers, according to an analysis by the ANP of a Kieskompas survey. Roughly 41 percent of respondents, however, opposed the idea.

Support for the so-called “spreidingswet” or distribution law varies significantly by municipality. In Tynaarlo and Utrecht, around 70 percent of residents favor the law. In Westerwolde, home to the Ter Apel asylum registration center, about two-thirds support it.

Opposition is strongest in Urk, where over 70 percent of residents reject the measure. Bunschoten and Rucphen also have higher-than-average opposition. These municipalities have historically supported the PVV party, a vocal opponent of the law.

The survey question asked: “The national government may require municipalities to host more asylum seekers so that reception is fairly distributed across the Netherlands.” More than 1.2 million people responded in the lead-up to the 2025 Tweede Kamer elections.

The spreidingswet, which took effect in February of last year, requires municipalities to participate in hosting asylum seekers. Previously, whether a municipality accepted asylum seekers depended on local willingness rather than a legal obligation.