Violent anti-asylum protests prompt Loosdrecht to cut asylum intake
Authorities in Wijdemeren have reduced the number of asylum seekers housed in a temporary emergency shelter in Loosdrecht and delayed its opening following days of unrest, including violent protests against the facility, NOS reported.
The municipality announced it will lower capacity from 110 to 70 people and postpone the opening until May 6. The shelter had initially been scheduled to receive its first arrivals last Wednesday.
The decision follows consecutive days of demonstrations in the Noord-Holland village near Hilversum, where protesters threw heavy fireworks and stones at police. Officers, including riot units, intervened multiple times, and several people were arrested. A 30-year-old man from Hilversum was convicted Friday in a fast-track court hearing and sentenced to community service and a suspended prison term.
Municipal officials said the move aims to “restore calm and reconnect with the community.” Wijdemeren currently does not host any asylum seekers.
Earlier, a court ruled that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) could house up to 110 asylum seekers—specifically single men—in the former municipal building in Loosdrecht for a maximum of six months.
A municipal spokesperson said “the social unrest has given the college cause for reflection,” adding that accommodating 70 asylum seekers better fits the local context.
Acting Mayor Mark Verheijen said the municipal council concluded the original plan for emergency shelter “in terms of speed and scale was not appropriate for the local situation.”
He rejected claims that the reduction was a concession to violence. “We considered stopping the shelter and yielding to violence. However, we have listened to the genuine concerns of our residents,” Verheijen said.
In a statement, Verheijen added, “The events of recent days have deeply affected me. I understand the concerns that exist among people in the village. That social unrest cannot be ignored. The local community is under high tension.”
He also condemned the violence: “On the other hand, we saw shocking images of rioters committing violence against the police. I explicitly distance myself from that.”
