Dutch municipalities defy minister over holiday park residency

Dutch municipalities are largely defying a call from Housing Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan to exercise restraint regarding the enforcement of bans on permanent residency in holiday parks. While the national government seeks to establish a framework by the end of the year to provide legal certainty for the estimated 60,000 people living in recreational homes, many local authorities continue to conduct physical and administrative checks.

Municipalities such as Roerdalen, Echt-Susteren, Harderwijk, and Súdwest-Fryslân maintain that holiday parks are intended strictly for tourism and that permanent living undermines the local recreational sector. These local governments argue they have the right to prioritize tourism and protect the intended function of these sites. Conversely, the minister’s goal is to prevent residents from facing homelessness due to the housing shortage.

In a separate development regarding asylum seeker housing, the Veendam municipal council has unanimously voted to extend the emergency shelter at Lloydsweg until April 2029. The facility, which accommodates up to 100 people, is considered to be functioning well despite previous political hesitation. Additionally, the municipality of Leiden has decided to rent the former Hotel Nieuw Minerva to provide temporary housing for 57 status holders to alleviate pressure on full asylum seeker centers.