Dutch Asylum Agency Cuts Ties with LGBT Support Group Over Heated Disputes
Netherlands, 24 April 2026
The Central Agency for Reception of Asylum Seekers has effectively severed its partnership with LGBT Asylum Support, threatening to ban the organisation from all reception centres. The dispute centres on what COA calls ‘unjustified accusations’ and allegedly aggressive communications that make staff feel unsafe. LGBT Asylum Support reported 931 unsafe situations in 2025 alone and claims asylum seekers are discouraged from seeking their help.
Decade of Deteriorating Relations
The breakdown in cooperation between COA and LGBT Asylum Support represents the culmination of years of mounting tensions [1]. According to documents reviewed by NRC, the relationship has been ‘difficult’ for years, but COA has now sharpened contact rules and ended structural consultations with the organisation [1]. The new restrictions mean that reports from LGBT Asylum Support will only be registered and not responded to substantively, whilst open letters will in principle only be accepted ‘for information’ [1].
Broader Assessment Challenges
The dispute extends beyond reception centre conditions to fundamental assessment procedures for LGBTI+ asylum claims. This week, LGBT Asylum Support received an email from the Ministry of Justice and Security stating that a letter addressing bottlenecks in the assessment of LGBTI+ asylum seekers was accepted only ‘for information’ [2]. The organisation’s concerns centre on what it describes as the Immigration and Naturalisation Service’s (IND) structural failure to recognise couples, noting that partners of queer asylum seekers are ‘almost never’ interviewed, resulting in ‘years of structural discrimination’ [2].
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
Kortekaas warned that the most vulnerable individuals would suffer most from COA’s new restrictions, stating: ‘The people who need the most protection are the victims of these measures’ [1]. He also alleged that COA staff actively discourage residents from contacting LGBT Asylum Support and in some cases have threatened not to help asylum seekers who do make contact [1]. These claims, if accurate, would represent a significant barrier to accessing specialised support services for individuals who often face discrimination both in their home countries and within reception facilities.