Netherlands Leads EU in Unaccompanied Minor Asylum Applications Despite Overall Drop
Netherlands, 20 February 2026
While EU asylum applications fell 26% in November 2025, the Netherlands processed the highest number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers amongst all member states. Of 1,370 vulnerable children applying for protection across the EU—primarily from Somalia, Eritrea, and Afghanistan—the Netherlands handled more cases than Germany, Greece, Spain, or Belgium combined. This surge places additional strain on Dutch COA reception facilities already managing specialised care for young asylum seekers arriving alone, highlighting the country’s disproportionate role in protecting Europe’s most vulnerable migrants during a period of declining overall asylum demand.
Sharp Decline in EU Asylum Applications
The November 2025 figures reveal a substantial contraction in asylum demand across the European Union, with first-time asylum applications dropping to 54,825 from non-EU nationals [1]. This represents a significant 26 percent decrease compared to November 2024, while also marking a 12 percent decline from October 2025’s figure of 62,375 applications [1]. The data underscores a broader trend of reduced asylum-seeking activity across the continent during this period.
Concentration of Applications in Key Member States
Despite the overall decline, asylum applications remained concentrated amongst a small group of EU member states. Italy recorded the highest number of first-time applications with 12,195, closely followed by Spain with 11,875, France with 8,845, and Germany with 8,740 [1]. Together, these four countries processed 76 percent of all first-time asylum requests filed across the EU during November 2025 [1]. When adjusted for population size, Greece recorded the highest rate at 42.4 applications per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly above the EU average of 12.2 per 100,000 people [1].
Vulnerable Children Seeking Protection
Amongst the 1,370 unaccompanied minors who applied for asylum for the first time in November 2025, children from Somalia, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Egypt comprised the largest groups [1]. These young asylum seekers represent some of the most vulnerable individuals within the European protection system, requiring specialised care and accommodation arrangements. The Netherlands processed more applications from unaccompanied minors than any other EU member state, followed by Germany, Greece, Spain, and Belgium [1].
Dutch Reception System Under Pressure
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) operates various forms of accommodation for asylum seekers, including specialised facilities for unaccompanied minors [2]. Regular small-scale reception facilities, designed for locations with approximately 150 places or fewer, emphasise independence amongst residents who must travel to nearby locations for medical appointments, language lessons, or recreational activities [2]. These facilities are more expensive to operate than larger-scale accommodation but are considered essential for building local community support and facilitating faster integration [2]. The COA acknowledges that small-scale reception is crucial for securing more distributed, long-term locations, particularly given the significant shortage of reception places [2].