Fewer asylum seekers came to the Netherlands in February

Almost 2,500 asylum seekers arrived in the Netherlands in February, the fourth month in a row that refugee numbers have gone down.

Some 690 of them were family members, joining relatives already in the country, according to immigration service figures.

In October, over 11,000 refugees reached the Netherlands, but since then measures to tighten border checks and reduce provisions for asylum seekers would appear to be having an effect.

Three in 10 of February’s new arrivals were from Syria, with Albanians making up the second biggest group at 10%. Albania is considered a safe third country and they are likely to be sent back immediately.

Women and children now account for over half of asylum requests. In October, 63% of new arrivals were men.