Utrecht branch of legal aid office forced to close after landlord terminates lease

Juridisch Loket has closed its Utrecht location after the landlord in charge of the legal aid office's Catharijnesingel location terminated the lease. No new premises have yet been secured in the the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. The next closest location is in Amersfoort, RTV Utrecht reports.

The organization provides free legal advice to people with lower household incomes and operates nationwide. Before closing, the Utrecht office saw heavy demand, averaging about 450 walk-in visitors per month and roughly 70 scheduled consultation hours.

A spokesperson said that “it is not the intention that we would no longer be in Utrecht." With the Utrecht office shut, residents are being directed to the Amersfoort branch on Van Asch van Wijckstraat.

Additional staff has been added to handle the increased workload at the office. Telephone support remains available for people looking to reach the Utrecht branch.

In some cases, consultation sessions with legal experts can still be arranged in Utrecht, potentially through flexible meeting arrangements at UCentraal on the Drift.

Regarding the search for a new location, the spokesperson said, “I would have preferred to say, 'We are moving, and it will be there and there.' We are searching hard, but it has not worked out yet.”