Doctors warn children on Rotterdam asylum ship face risk of lasting developmental harm
Doctors and healthcare workers are warning that children living on the Silja asylum ship in Rotterdam face serious physical and mental health risks, with concerns that prolonged exposure to the conditions could lead to lasting developmental harm, as the number of minors on board continues to rise despite repeated warnings, EenVandaag reports.
The Silja in Rotterdam houses 2,000 status holders and is one of the largest refugee reception centers in the Netherlands. A large share of residents—578 people—are children. Another 419 residents are aged 18 to 23 and often live without parents.
Staff have long expressed concern about the youngest children, including a nurse identified as Joelle and GP Caroline Reincke, both of whom previously worked on the ship through GZA, the healthcare provider responsible for medical care at asylum reception locations. They have since left their positions, frustrated by the situation.
Joelle quickly realized the situation on the ship was not normal. Staff found that many children had similar complaints, including gastrointestinal problems, nausea, and sleep issues. Mental health problems were also widely reported, including anxiety, behavioral issues, and anger outbursts. Staff linked these problems to life on the ship.
Care is provided in the ship’s former swimming pool area. Rooms often have no windows, and children sometimes sleep without their parents.
“If we continue like this, the children will suffer lasting harm,” said GP Caroline Reincke. She warned that prolonged exposure to these conditions may lead to serious developmental harm, including brain damage, cognitive impairments, and disrupted emotional development.
Vulnerable groups are also at risk. “Scabies and chickenpox are constantly present,” said Reincke. Reports indicate that pregnant women, sometimes placed on the ship against medical advice, face particularly concerning circumstances.
In 2024, healthcare workers on the Silja asylum ship in Rotterdam issued a letter warning that the vessel had transformed into a “pressure cooker” of violence, overcrowding, and infectious disease. The doctors, who provide care on board, said conditions were unsafe for children and young women, citing reports of unsupervised children, behavioral problems, and exposure to physical and verbal violence. At the time, they also reported widespread hygiene issues and outbreaks of illnesses including scabies, flu, chickenpox, norovirus, and cases of tuberculosis and argued that the ship was overcrowded and unsuitable as a long-term reception site.
Despite meetings with the ministry, COA, and GZA, little has changed. An anonymous doctor currently working on the Silja told EenVandaag that "at every consultation I see people with complaints caused by living conditions.”
