Dutch Emergency Shelters Replace Specialist Care Homes for Asylum-Seeking Children
Netherlands, 30 April 2026
Severe accommodation shortages are forcing vulnerable young asylum seekers into emergency shelters instead of the small-scale, intensive care facilities they desperately need. These unaccompanied minors, arriving in the Netherlands without parents or guardians, require specialised support to navigate both adolescence and complex asylum procedures simultaneously. The crisis has reached such proportions that the COA can no longer guarantee appropriate developmental care for these vulnerable teenagers.
Age-Based Care System Under Strain
The Netherlands operates a carefully structured care system for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, known as alleenstaande minderjarige vreemdelingen (AMV), which varies significantly based on age [1]. Those under 15 are placed in foster families under the supervision of the Nidos foundation, whilst those over 15 are housed in small-scale reception centres managed by the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) [1]. During the asylum procedure itself, minors typically reside in COA process reception locations accommodating between 50 to 80 youths aged 15 to 18, where they remain for six months to a year whilst their applications are processed [1]. However, the current accommodation crisis is severely disrupting this established framework, forcing authorities to place young people in unsuitable emergency facilities that lack the specialised support systems these vulnerable individuals require [1].
Intensive Support Requirements Not Met in Emergency Settings
The standard care model for these young asylum seekers involves intensive, round-the-clock supervision designed to facilitate their transition to adulthood [1]. In proper facilities, each young person receives support from a dedicated COA mentor, with staff available 24 hours a day and minimum staffing levels of at least two supervisors in the morning, three during the afternoon, and two overnight [1]. COA staff conduct presence checks twice daily and mentors provide comprehensive guidance covering Dutch customs, education, homework assistance, leisure activities, and cooking skills [1]. The accommodation typically ranges from small-scale housing units for three to four young people with daily mentor support, to residential groups of 12 individuals requiring 24-hour care [1]. These structured environments are specifically designed to address the complex needs of adolescents navigating both personal development and the uncertainty of asylum procedures [1].
Emergency Accommodation Crisis Deepens
The COA acknowledges that there is currently a significant shortage of reception places, affecting both COA facilities and Nidos placements [1]. This shortage has forced authorities to rely on temporary emergency accommodation locations where the desired level of care and supervision cannot always be provided [1]. The COA’s dependence on municipal cooperation for establishing new facilities has compounded the accommodation crisis, as local authorities struggle to identify suitable locations and resources [1]. The emergency placements represent a significant departure from the established care standards, potentially compromising the developmental support that these vulnerable young people require during a critical period in their lives [1].
Long-Term Implications for Youth Development
Since 2016, the reception of young people who receive residence permits has been transferred from the COA to Nidos, which manages small residential units or groups specifically designed for successful integration [1]. Even rejected asylum seekers under 18 remain entitled to reception until departure becomes possible, typically housed in small COA facilities designed for 14 to 18 youths [1]. The current crisis threatens to undermine these carefully developed systems, with emergency accommodations unable to provide the intensive developmental support that research and practice have identified as essential for this vulnerable population [GPT]. The situation highlights the broader challenges facing the Dutch asylum system as it struggles to balance humanitarian obligations with practical capacity constraints in an increasingly strained immigration landscape [GPT].