Dutch Municipality Chooses School Over Hotels for Asylum Centre to Protect Tourism
Apeldoorn, 29 April 2026
Apeldoorn plans to house 240 asylum seekers in a vacant school building next to a special needs facility, sparking fierce local opposition. The municipality’s strategic decision aims to prevent government requisition of hotels, protecting the tourism sector. Under Dutch law, Apeldoorn must accommodate 881 asylum seekers and is already nearing capacity through existing centres.
Community Alarm Over School Proximity
The proposed emergency shelter in the De Maten district has triggered intense concern among local residents, particularly parents of children attending the adjacent special needs school [1]. Parents have raised serious alarm about safety and tranquillity in the neighbourhood, expressing frustration over what they perceive as inadequate community consultation in the decision-making process [1]. The municipality held an information meeting for residents on Wednesday, 22 April, though access was strictly controlled with only invited residents who had prior registration and received a stamp permitted entry, whilst police maintained a presence outside the venue [3].
Timeline and Operational Details
The emergency facility is scheduled to commence operations in mid-May and will operate for approximately one year [1][3]. The shelter will provide basic ‘spoednoodopvang’ (emergency accommodation) facilities, featuring shared sleeping areas rather than individual rooms, catering services instead of self-cooking facilities, and round-the-clock security provision [3]. The accommodation will house a diverse mix of residents, including asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their applications, status holders waiting for permanent housing, and families arriving through family reunification programmes [3].
Strategic Municipal Decision-Making
Apeldoorn’s choice to utilise the vacant school building represents a calculated strategy to prevent the national government from requisitioning local hotels for asylum accommodation [3]. This approach stems from municipal concerns about the potential negative impact on the tourism sector, according to the mayor [3]. The city is already approaching its legal obligation under Dutch law to accommodate 881 asylum seekers through its main asylum centre and two existing temporary locations [3]. By proactively offering the school building solution, Apeldoorn aims to maintain control over accommodation placement whilst fulfilling its statutory requirements.
Growing Community Opposition and Political Tensions
Concerned residents have initiated a petition that has since been presented to the mayor, whilst social media campaigns calling for collective action against the plans have gained momentum throughout the neighbourhood [1]. On Tuesday evening, dozens of residents gathered at a roundabout in the De Maten district to voice their opposition to the asylum centre plans [1]. Professor Leo Lucassen from Leiden University, an expert in migration studies, has criticised political rhetoric from right-wing parties including the PVV, Forum for Democracy, and JA21, arguing that their statements about asylum seekers and associated disruption often contradict factual evidence [1]. The academic warned that constant repetition of such claims through television coverage can lead to public acceptance of inaccurate information, whilst advocating for enhanced police oversight to prevent demonstration escalation [1].