Dutch Government Scraps Year-Old Asylum Service, Wasting £33 Million
Ter Apel, 11 March 2026
The Netherlands has abruptly closed its asylum screening service after just fifteen months, rendering a £33 million computer system worthless and leaving 120 employees jobless. The service had successfully reduced screening errors from over 15% to under 5%, yet will be dissolved on 12 June when immigration duties transfer to another department under European migration rules.
Sudden Closure Leaves Staff Feeling Abandoned
The Dienst Identificatie en Screening Asielzoekers (DISA) informed its workforce this week that operations would cease, with employees learning of their redundancy through internal communications [2]. Staff at the Ter Apel facility, which processed biometric data for newly arrived asylum seekers, expressed feelings of betrayal following the announcement. One employee told Dutch media: “We feel abandoned. We did not expect this. This is a huge blow to our faces” [1]. The closure affects 80 positions in Ter Apel and 40 in Budel, Noord-Brabant [2]. Ministry officials confirmed that “the current core task of DISA will cease to exist” [1][2], with few employees expected to transfer to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) due to ongoing reorganisation within that department [2].
Substantial Performance Improvements Rendered Worthless
Despite achieving significant operational improvements, DISA’s closure represents what critics describe as fiscal irresponsibility. The service successfully reduced error margins in asylum seeker screening to below 5%, compared to the previous rate of over 15% when the National Police handled these duties [1][2]. This improvement was achieved through a specially developed computer system designed to integrate with both police and IND databases [2]. The €40 million system, which processed biometric data and conducted identity verification checks, will now be discarded along with the operational expertise developed over fifteen months [1][2]. One frustrated employee characterised the situation bluntly: “You set something up with tax money and then throw it in the trash, including the staff” [1][2].
European Migration Pact Forces Administrative Restructure
The closure stems from implementation requirements of the European Migration Pact, which takes effect on 12 June 2026 [1][2]. Under these new regulations, the IND will assume responsibility for asylum seeker screening processes previously handled by DISA. A ministry spokesperson explained that the decision aligns with the Schoof cabinet’s policy framework, stating: “In line with the coalition agreement of the Schoof cabinet, it was decided to transfer the administrative tasks performed by the police to a competent organisation. This allowed the police to focus more on their core tasks” [2]. The transition represents a reversal of the January 2025 policy that created DISA to relieve police of asylum-related administrative burdens.
Broader Context of Asylum Processing Challenges
The DISA closure occurs against a backdrop of persistent challenges within the Dutch asylum system. Recent months have witnessed increasing waiting times for asylum seekers despite reduced intake levels, as reported on 26 January 2026 [1]. Financial penalties have mounted, with the IND required to pay €79 million in compensation to asylum seekers affected by processing delays, as confirmed on 3 February 2026 [1]. Concerns about procedural efficiency persist, with doubts expressed on 11 February 2026 regarding the effectiveness of IND measures aimed at shortening asylum procedures [1]. The situation prompted the new minister to appeal to municipalities on 9 March 2026 for additional asylum reception capacity [1]. The closure of DISA, which had demonstrated measurable improvements in processing accuracy, adds another layer of complexity to an already strained system facing European regulatory requirements.