World · Europe · 7 hrs ago
Dutch churches prepare temporary housing for more than 100 refugees
Dutch churches are preparing temporary shelter for people granted residence permits who are still living in asylum centres.
Twenty churches across the Netherlands are arranging beds and other facilities, and another 40 have expressed interest.
The plan could provide more than 100 people with somewhere to stay, allowing them to leave their asylum centres.
People with residence permits are supposed to move to a home in the municipality where they will settle, but a housing shortage often delays that move.
The delays keep asylum centres full, leaving fewer places for people seeking asylum and adding pressure at the Ter Apel reception centre.
The churches aim to offer temporary accommodation for three months in the municipality where each person is due to receive housing.
The COA is expected to help arrange onward housing so people can move on after those three months.
At least 100 refugees with residence permits are expected to get temporary accommodation through a Dutch churches’ initiative.
Twenty churches across the Netherlands are preparing to host people, while another 40 have expressed interest.
The initiative is aimed at people still living in asylum reception centres while they wait for housing.
Churches say the temporary accommodation could free space in reception centres and ease pressure on the centre in Ter Apel.
The Raad van Kerken says the COA will arrange for residents to move on to another place after three months.
- Who
- Dutch churches are preparing to host refugees who have residence permits.
- What
- The initiative will provide temporary accommodation for more than 100 people.
- When
- The churches’ joint call was made on the Tuesday before the NOS report published on 23 October 2026.
- Where
- Participating churches are spread across the Netherlands; people are intended to stay in the municipality where they are to receive housing.
- Why
- Housing shortages keep people with residence permits in asylum reception centres. The initiative aims to free space there and ease pressure on the Ter Apel centre.
Churches backing Actie Onderdak
IJmuiden pastor questioning feasibility
Feasibility
Churches backing Actie Onderdak
The churches are preparing temporary accommodation, and the initiative is expected to provide space for more than 100 people.
IJmuiden pastor questioning feasibility
The pastor described the idea as very good but not realistic.
The joint churches in the Netherlands called for temporary accommodation for people with residence permits.
Haarlems Dagblad reported that a Haarlem church had responded to the call and that a pastor in IJmuiden questioned its feasibility.
NOS reported that 20 churches were preparing accommodation and another 40 were considering joining.
- Churches preparing accommodation
- 20
- Other churches expressing interest
- 40
- People able to leave asylum centres
- More than 100
- Planned accommodation period
- Three months
- Intended destination
- The municipality where each person is to receive housing
3 sources
Tientallen kerken melden zich bij Actie Onderdak om statushouders op te vangen
Tientallen kerken melden zich na oproep om statushouders op te vangen
Oproep om statushouders onderdak te bieden vindt gehoor bij Haarlemse kerk. Pastoor in IJmuiden zet vraagtekens bij de uitvoerbaarheid. ’Zeer goed idee, maar niet realistisch’
What people are saying
de opvang van de kerken helpt bij een zachte landing in de samenleving
Zeer goed idee, maar niet realistisch