Asylum-seekers in the Netherlands

Written by: Sabine Bos and Lamija Skapur

“No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.” - Warsan Shire. Every day, ordinary people across the world leave their homes in pursuit of a better life. Not only is it a very tough choice to make, but it also causes a number of issues in other places. People are unable to exercise all of their human rights since they are frequently referred to as “asylum-seekers’’ rather than being legally recognized as refugees. Similar to other nations, the Netherlands finds it difficult to assist asylum seekers, which makes it much more difficult for them to maintain respectable lives.

To define the term ‘Asylum-seeker’, this title is given to those who have fled their country in search of a greater sense of safety and security in another; seeking asylum away from the possible danger or violent chaos in which they departed.

Although it is challenging for The Netherlands to aid asylum seekers, there are organizations in a place whose purpose is to support and allow them to more easily establish themselves in this new country. According to a web page by XPAT.NL, The Netherlands provides housing in emergency shelters to those who register with the ‘COA’ or in other words ‘ the Central Organisation for the Reception of Asylum Seekers. These shelters occasionally take place within sports centers, camps, converted buildings, etc, and though they only provide very basic accommodation, at least they have somewhere to go. The shelters

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

also provide three meals a day, clothing plus basic healthcare. However, their stay here is only temporary. Four days is all that’s allocated, before preparing to gain status as a refugee. Subsequent to settling in The Netherlands and residing in a refugee center, only then can they enter the ‘official refugee procedure’, which provides a small allowance of 13 euros a week (depending on whether they receive meals), and a bank account where this money will be held. After this, the process is long and slow in redeveloping their lives to a state of normality.

In conclusion, for countries all around the world, managing asylum seekers and refugees is complicated and troublesome. In comparison to other countries, The Netherlands is rather generous in the supply of resources available, that help expedite the development in creating a new life for these people. Though on the other hand, from the perspective of those seeking asylum, this process will always be too long, too slow, and too hopeless, yet the people; are so hopeful. Hopeful that one day no one will have to go through such trouble, just to escape their own home.