An empty town hall in Loosdrecht near Hilversum can be used as an asylum centre despite local objections which have led to several nights of protests and rioting, a court in Lelystand has ruled.

Despite the court decision, the local council has decided to postpone opening the centre until next month, after King’s Day, when more police will be available to provide security following three nights of rioting.

Riot police were called to the empty town hall on Wednesday evening after a large crowd of protestors had gathered outside, throwing fireworks at the police. At least one police officer was injured, broadcaster NOS reported.

Mayor Mark Verheijen said peaceful protest was welcome but that public order disruptions were “unacceptable”.

The first protest, on Monday night, drew around 500 people after a petition with 3,000 signatures against the shelter was handed in. Riot police broke up a second night of protest on Tuesday, at which two people were arrested.

Loosdrecht is one of several towns currently fighting over asylum centers. Riot police also intervened at a demonstration this week against a planned shelter in Den Bosch, where the council wants to house 50 asylum seekers aged 15 to 18.

In Gelderland, the council in Epe has started fining the COA €63,480 per day up to €11.4 million until a hotel still housing more than 200 asylum seekers is vacated.

In late March, asylum minister Bart van den Brink wrote to all mayors warning of a 4,500-bed shortfall, with people at risk of having to sleep outside. Under the so-called spreading law, councils have until 1 July to provide their fair share of reception places, and the minister has said he will force them to comply if they do not.

The agency expects a shortfall of nearly 8,000 reception places across the country by August.

The Lelystad court ruled the Loosdrecht shelter could open despite the protests because the humanitarian case for the shelter outweighed local residents’ concerns.