Ukrainian refugees are denied asylum in the Netherlands: what’s going on
20 March 08:51
The Netherlands is forced to refuse refugees who fled the territory of Ukraine because of the war. The reason is that there is not enough space for citizens in shelters. This is reported by the local edition of NOS, citing the words of the representative of the Amsterdam authorities, Rutger Groot Wassink, Komersant ukrainskyi informs
“We have reached a sad point where we can no longer accept refugees from Ukraine in the Netherlands, and we are leaving the Ukrainian people. This week in Amsterdam we had to turn away dozens of people who are homeless, just like last week,” he said.
The official explained that referrals to shelters in other cities are not possible because the country is currently at 99.8% occupancy rate.
As of today, 120,820 Ukrainians are registered in the Netherlands, 93,770 of whom are staying in municipal shelters. The occupancy rate of municipal shelters has been almost 100 percent for several months.
According to the newspaper, Ukrainians who fled the war in their country fall under the European Temporary Protection Directive and are therefore entitled to asylum and education in the Netherlands. This agreement is valid until March 4, 2026. In some cases, the Dutch Red Cross can offer people in a very vulnerable situation hotel accommodation for up to three nights.
More than 27 thousand Ukrainians registered in the Netherlands do not live in municipal shelters; they rent independent housing or stay with friends or host families. Unregistered Ukrainians can also live independently in the Netherlands and work, but they will not have the right to healthcare, education or housing, for example.
Journalists note that today, March 20, the House of Representatives is to discuss the reception of Ukrainian refugees in the country.
Temporary protection as an obstacle
According to official statistics, in absolute terms, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic have received the most Ukrainian refugees – each of these countries has granted temporary protection to about a million Ukrainians. However, in terms of population, the Baltic States, Slovakia, and Ireland also had a significant burden.
The temporary protection introduced by the EU for Ukrainians gives them the right to work, live and study in the host countries. However, human rights organizations note that the temporary status of refugees creates difficulties with their integration into European society.
Factors that influence the choice of a country for Ukrainian refugees include proximity to Ukraine, language features, support from local communities, and information on social benefits and assistance.
