Unaccompanied minor foreign nationals (UMFs)
Reception of unaccompanied minors: How does it work?
An unaccompanied minor foreign national (AMV) is a young person who is under 18 years of age upon arrival in the Netherlands and who has come to the Netherlands without a parent or other legal guardian. A young person may have traveled to the Netherlands with others but has no parent or guardian in the Netherlands who is responsible for him or her.
Because these are minors who are in the Netherlands without their parents or guardians, specific rules apply to them. Their age, safety, and development are central to the care and support they receive.
Why separate childcare?
Unaccompanied minors have different needs than adult asylum seekers. As minors, they must fend for themselves in a country that is unfamiliar to them, while at the same time waiting for clarity about their future. That is why there are special reception centers that provide support tailored to their age and situation.
Young people attend school and receive support in their daily lives. The program focuses on safety, structure, language, independence, and their development. Sports, activities, and engagement with the community can also be part of the support provided.
“These 54 young people have been living in Geldrop for years. During that time, they’ve built a life here: they go to school, have made friends, are speaking Dutch better and better, and have a familiar environment and support system. Stability is incredibly important, especially for young people who came to the Netherlands without their parents.”
Who is responsible for what?
Various organizations are involved in the reception and support of unaccompanied minors:
- The COA is responsible for providing shelter and daily support. Support and supervision are available 24 hours a day at the shelter.
- Nidos serves as the guardian for every unaccompanied minor. The guardian represents the young person’s interests as long as he or she is a minor.
- The IND reviews the asylum application and decides whether the young person will be granted protection in the Netherlands.
- The municipality is not responsible for the asylum process, but under the Distribution Act, it does have a legal obligation to provide shelter.
Other organizations, such as Humanitas and VluchtelingenWerk, may also be involved in providing guidance and support to young people.
What happens when a young person turns 18?
When a young person turns 18, the situation changes. The young person is then of legal age and, depending on the outcome of the asylum proceedings, will transition to another form of shelter or to housing outside the shelter if he or she has been granted a residence permit.
The Legal Obligation to Provide Shelter
The provision of shelter for unaccompanied minor foreign nationals falls under the legal obligation of municipalities to provide shelter, as stipulated by the Distribution Act. Municipalities are therefore responsible for helping to ensure there are sufficient shelter facilities for asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minor foreign nationals.
The municipality does not decide whether a young person may remain in the Netherlands. That decision rests with the IND. However, the municipality does have the discretion to determine how and where it organizes its contribution to the reception effort.
Childcare in Geldrop-Mierlo
Geldrop-Mierlo is providing shelter for 54 unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. They stayed at the shelter on De Akert from September 1, 2023, to September 1, 2026. On September 1, 2026, they moved to De Spaarpot.
The permanent shelter at De Spaarpot is not yet ready. For this reason, the young people will initially stay in a temporary facility on the same grounds. As soon as the permanent shelter is ready—around January 1, 2027—they will move to this facility within De Spaarpot. The interim facility is therefore a temporary solution. The previously agreed-upon duration of the shelter remains unchanged: the shelter at De Spaarpot will operate until September 1, 2029.
View the floor plan of the temporary shelter
The De Spaarpot location is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to report disturbances and incidents by calling 06 29 085 167.
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