13,000 refugees in the Netherlands are waiting for a new home

In total, 13,000 asylum seekers who have been given refugee status in the Netherlands are waiting for a new home, according to the government’s refugee agency COA.

Every local authority area in the country is required to set aside housing for refugees in proportion to their size of their area. But many argue they do not have enough social housing to meet their quota.

The problem is set to get worse when a further 13,000 refugee permits are approved over the next six months, the Volkskrant says on Wednesday.

Marie-Louise van Kleef, from the refugee housing platform Opnieuw Thuis, says the provinces should take advantage of the powers they have to earmark property for refugees.

This has only  happened once, when Groningen province forced the village of Zuidhorn to find homes for two refugees immediately, the Volkskrant says.

The platform was set up by the justice ministry, local councils and housing corporations last year in an effort to solve the refugee housing crisis. The provinces are charged with making sure local councils meet their obligations.

Amsterdam has the biggest problem in housing refugees with a waiting list of 1,100, the Volkskrant says.