Permanent reception of refugees

The problems in the reception of refugees are great, requiring municipalities to actively help and provide support. It is expected that reception of refugees in municipalities will continue to be necessary in the coming years. It is therefore important to organize long-term reception facilities. This prompted the City Council to adopt a framework in February 2025 and structurally embed reception in administrative and official processes.

We also think it is important from a human perspective to help. We did that before for refugees from Ukraine and at the temporary shelter at De Spaarpot in 2024. Moreover, for the housing of status holders - people who have been granted a residence permit and are registered in our municipality - every six months each municipality receives a statutory target from the state that must be met.

Geldrop-Mierlo is a municipality for everyone. The college and the city council consider it a moral responsibility to contribute to the reception of minor asylum seekers. The situation of this group of vulnerable people is very distressing at the reception center in Ter Apel. With the advent of the Spreading Act, we are also obliged to accommodate asylum seekers.

The refugee reception framework focuses on four forms of reception: 

• the emergency reception of Ukrainian displaced persons;
• the reception of asylum seekers;
• the reception of unaccompanied minor aliens (unaccompanied minors);
• intermediate facilities for status holders (flow-through sites).

There are interfaces with the housing of migrant workers and the permanent housing of status holders. However, these are not forms of reception and therefore these topics do not fall within this framework.

Reception of Ukrainian displaced persons

As of July 1, 2025, the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo has realized 229 places for the reception of displaced persons from Ukraine. This is 19 more than the imposed target by July 1, 2025. These displaced persons stay in three larger group locations and 20 smaller groups and families stay in residential houses, in both Geldrop and Mierlo.

The Council of the European Union decided unanimously last summer to extend the Temporary Protection Scheme (RTB) - for more than 4 million Ukrainian war refugees - by one year until March 4, 2027.

Reception of asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors

At the end of 2024, the Minister of Asylum and Migration finalized the task per municipality through the apportionment decision within the framework of the Spreading Act. Based on this law, the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo was given the task of accommodating 106 asylum seekers. Currently, 54 unaccompanied minor asylum seekers (UMFNs) are accommodated at the location De Akert. Thus, the municipality does not meet the task. In addition, the Ministry of Asylum and Migration has announced a proposed reallocation of reception places. This may increase the number of refugees to be received.

On September 1, 2026, the reception at location De Akert will end. The municipality is currently making efforts, to find an alternative location for the unaccompanied minors in our municipality in a timely manner. The municipality is in discussion with COA to find new, suitable reception location(s) to meet our (total) task.

Intermediate facility/ flow-through location

An interim facility or flow-through location for status holders is structurally set up for preferably a period of at least ten and no more than fifteen years. There are currently no flow-through locations in Geldrop-Mierlo. However, it is desirable to establish these. After all, it is better for both the status holders and the municipality if they leave the AZC as soon as possible, so that they can start the civic integration program and start working.

The municipality currently has a legal task to accommodate 106 asylum seekers. In consultation with COA it is being considered whether this number can be accommodated at the new location. In doing so, the municipality is focusing on the reception of the target group of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

At this time, it is impossible to say if and when the Spreads Act will be repealed. Until this law is repealed, we will assume the existing laws and regulations. If the Spreading Act is repealed or changes then the council will have to reconsider what the intentions are and adjust the policy framework accordingly. 

No. The college is in discussions with COA to find new, suitable reception site(s) to meet our (overall) task. The college implements the framework and is authorized to make choices that fall within the framework established by the council. If it is estimated that choices will have a large social, financial or organizational impact, the council will be notified or consulted.

Current shelters for Ukrainians are not structural in nature. Since Ukrainian refugees will stay permanently in emergency shelters for the duration of Directive Temporary Protection, structural availability is desirable. This is important for the people accommodated, for effective environmental management and for the efficient organization of the reception sites. 

In Geldrop-Mierlo, COA has already had a location for unaccompanied minor aliens (AMVs) in former residential care center De Akert since the end of September 2023. These are young people between the ages of 14 and 18, including from countries such as Syria, Eritrea and Afghanistan (not Ukraine) who arrived in the Netherlands without parents or other supervisors to apply for asylum. The reception of this group is going well. Agreements have been made with Anna Zorggroep about the availability of the location. The reception of unaccompanied minors will stop on September 1, 2026. The municipality is currently making efforts, to find a timely alternative location for the unaccompanied minors in our municipality. The municipality is in discussion with COA to find new, suitable reception location(s), to meet our (total) task.

This is not yet known. We will search for a suitable small-scale location for the duration of 10 years in consultation with COA. After consultative research, we will submit this location to the City Council. Immediately after a decision on a location, local residents and stakeholders will be informed. 

The city council chooses to organize appropriate reception for refugees in Geldrop-Mierlo. For the location(s) the best possible place will be sought. Both several small-scale and a larger reception location are possible if they fit within the framework refugee reception. In addition, the municipality finds it important that the reception takes place in a humane manner and that reception is organized in a socially responsible manner for the environment. 

The choice of location is the responsibility of the municipal authorities. Neighbors can, for example, contribute to the design of the outdoor space (greenery, lighting), think about preventive measures (safety), contact moments and communication (frequency of newsletters, participation in sounding board group, contact points), activities and neighborhood initiatives.

The reception of refugees will most likely require an environmental permit for temporary deviation from the zoning plan. The moment the permit is granted, that decision will be announced. Within six weeks of that announcement, interested parties may file a notice of objection with the municipality.

Immediately after the decision, we first inform local residents and stakeholders and then disseminate the information through our other channels. We think contact with local residents and other stakeholders is important. We do what we can to ensure that the reception is as pleasant as possible for everyone: for both the refugees and the area surrounding the reception.