Dutch municipalities approve new asylum seeker centres in Wijchen and Haaksbergen

The municipality of Wijchen will open a 300‑place asylum seeker centre (azc) at Teersdijk in late 2027. Construction was delayed while a plan was developed to protect the local population of marten, after which the building was redesigned to be more compact, with an extra floor and additional outdoor space. The city will also purchase adjacent land for the marten’s habitat and has earmarked the site for possible housing after the centre’s ten‑year operation period.

In Haaksbergen, officials have selected a site on the Westsingel to accommodate 129 asylum seekers, complying with the national Spreidingswet and a local referendum that called for a single, larger location that would not block future residential development. The municipality is examining the addition of temporary housing for residents on the same plot, with a maximum stay of fifteen years before the area is re‑designated for industrial use. Both projects aim to ease pressure on the social housing market and promote integration of newcomers.

These developments illustrate how Dutch local governments are implementing the national asylum‑distribution law while balancing housing needs and environmental considerations.