DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

23 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Refugee agency has wasted €20m on emergency accommodation: Telegraaf

April 28, 2016
Accommodation for refugees at Ter Apel in Drenthe.
Photo: Justice ministry

The national refugee settlement agency COA has wasted at least €20m with its choice of emergency accommodation and contractors, the Telegraaf said on Thursday.

The paper, which bases its claims on its own research, said that some contractors were given preferential treatment while officials to use expensive sports centres as emergency accommodation, rather than cheaper alternatives.

For example, the contract to revamp a youth prison in Doggershoek in Den Helder did not go to the cheapest bidder but to a company from Bolsward in Friesland, which said it could do the job in two months.

The work, which should have been completed in January, will now not be ready until August.

In many places, the COA opted to rent sports centres to put up refugees. One, in Hardenburg charged €68 per refugee per night, more than the most expensive hotel in the region, the Telegraaf said.

However, there were other empty properties nearby which could have been used much more cheaply, the paper said.

The COA declined to comment on the Telegraaf’s claims, the paper said.

Cost

The cost of looking after asylum seekers rose €300m to €800m last year, the COA said last month.

The increase in costs stems from the surge in refugee numbers in September and October in particular. Over 18,000 people reported to the country’s refugee centres in those two months alone.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Troubled Vitesse Arnhem faces losing its pro licence again
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
Many "new" homes on Funda were already on the market for months
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now