Heemstede selects field near Cruquiusbrug for asylum seeker reception

The municipality of Heemstede has designated a field near the Cruquiusbrug as the preferred location for an asylum seeker reception center. The site, located on the west side of Cruquiusweg, is intended to accommodate approximately 160 asylum seekers for an initial period of five years, with the possibility of a five-year extension following an evaluation.

Local authorities selected the site because it is large enough to house nearly all required asylum seekers in one location, offers good accessibility, and is close to existing facilities. Additionally, the land is owned by Heemstede, allowing the municipality to maintain control over its development.

Because the field is situated within a protected landscape, the municipality must obtain an exemption from the province of North Holland. A decision from the province is expected in November. If approved, the municipal executive aims to make a final decision by the end of the year before proposing the location to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).