German authorities stop dumping deported people in Dutch border towns
The German border police will stop dumping migrants arbitrarily across the Dutch border, following complaints from border communities and new agreements with the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, de Volkskrant reports.
In recent months, more than 150 people were reportedly dropped at locations in the Netherlands without supervision, leading to concerns in towns such as ’s-Heerenberg in Gelderland. Residents described the situation as unsettling. One local told NOS, “If you are dropped here out of the car, where are you supposed to go?” He added that the experience gave him “a bit of an unsafe feeling.”
Under the new arrangement, migrants returned to the Netherlands will only be dropped at locations with public transportation available. A spokesperson for the marechaussee said, “This prevents them from wandering around or causing nuisance.”
The German and Dutch authorities agreed to spread returns across multiple border towns, avoiding concentration in specific communities. The move addresses complaints raised by Montferland Mayor Anne-Marie Fellinger, who earlier described the practice of leaving migrants unattended at the border as “worrying.” She emphasized, “Everyone, regardless of origin or status, deserves a humane, safe, and dignified treatment. Acceptable is only a transfer accompanied by adequate guidance, clear information, and certainty about shelter or safe next steps.”
The new measures follow broader border control policies. Germany implemented border checks in September last year to curb illegal immigration. In response, the Netherlands also introduced additional border checks in December, targeting migrants without valid documentation. Last month, caretaker Foreign Minister Van Weel announced a six-month extension of these controls, citing a “continued threat to public order” without specifying the details of that threat.
Marjon de Hoon-Veelenturf, mayor of Baarle-Nassau and chair of the cooperative border municipalities, said German controls cause traffic congestion and dangerous detours on unsuitable roads. She warned that internal border controls create psychological barriers, discouraging new cross-border initiatives, which she said reduces the regional economic potential by 8 percent.
