Caretaker home affairs minister Frank Rijkaart has condemned the growing number of threats and intimidation directed at mayors and local council officials, describing the behaviour as “horrific” and saying activists are going too far.

His response followed an appeal for support from 700 mayors and officials from the southern province of Limburg, as well as the resignation of one mayor because of the violence directed at him by anti-refugee protestors. The mayor of Venlo has also been put under police protection.

Rijkaart criticised Geert Wilders, leader of the far right PVV, who has urged residents not to accept the arrival of new asylum centres. “The tone, the setting, it is hugely incendiary,” the minister said on television talk show WNL op Zondag. Wilders, he said, was pushing the limits of acceptable speech.

Local officials have been calling for more support from The Hague and the caretaker coalition government in particular.

The current coalition partners, VVD and far-right BBB, have both said they want to scrap legislation which requires all local councils to take their far share of refugees. However, the law remains in force and this means councils must find accommodation for a designated number of people.

Local authority association VNG says this mixed message is driving far-right-led protests and leaves local officials more exposed. “It is a confusing signal,” the organisation said, adding that councillors need clear backing.

In a separate interview on current affairs show Buitenhof, VNG chairwoman Sharon Dijksma said she expects more action not only from Rijkaart but also from caretaker prime minister Dick Schoof.

She accused the cabinet of being “half-hearted”, saying that politicians are condemning threats while talking about “dilemmas”. “Make policy, but make sure the people on the front line are supported,” she said.

At the end of November the Telegraaf reported that many local councils are delaying decisions on opening new asylum centres until after the local elections in March 2026 because of the fear of intimidation.