Overcrowding strains Schiphol Asylum facility amid migrant surge
The asylum reception center at Schiphol Airport is under immense strain, housing more than 200 asylum seekers—five times its typical capacity of 40—according to the Dutch Ministry of Justice. Advocacy groups and asylum lawyers are raising concerns over the conditions and the ability to process cases fairly.
"We do not consider it responsible to keep so many people in such a facility and rush them through the asylum procedure," said attorney Frans Willem Verbaas. "This is unacceptable."
The surge in asylum seekers has overwhelmed resources, leaving some individuals without proper legal aid or information, said Vluchtelingenwerk, a Dutch refugee organization. Officials confirmed that asylum seekers are confined to their cells starting at 4:30 p.m. daily due to the lack of capacity.
The influx of migrants is primarily from Mauritania, Chad, Senegal, and the Central African Republic. Asylum lawyers estimate that the number of applicants at Schiphol has grown fivefold, with no immediate solutions in sight.
The sharp increase is linked to policy changes in Spain, which recently began requiring airport transit visas for travelers from several African nations. Laura Garcia, a representative of Spain’s police union, explained to NOS that migrants were previously using Madrid’s airport as a transit point to South America but were applying for asylum during layovers.
"Our airport could not handle such numbers. There was simply no space," Garcia said.
This policy shift appears to have redirected many asylum seekers to the Netherlands, exacerbating the strain on facilities at Schiphol.
In response, the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Migration has announced plans to implement a similar transit visa requirement for travelers from the same African nations. However, until this measure takes effect, the pressure on the Schiphol reception center continues to mount.
"Neither the Immigration and Naturalization Service nor the availability of lawyers is equipped to handle these numbers," said attorney Igna Oomen to NOS.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that all asylum seekers at Schiphol are assigned a lawyer but acknowledged the operational challenges caused by the increased caseload. Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber declined to comment on the situation.
