Reception ship COA Hellevoetsluis

For some time now our country has been struggling with a shortage of reception places for asylum seekers and municipalities have been asked to make reception places available. With the introduction of the Spreading Act, this was even made mandatory and every municipality was given a task order, including our municipality. 

The new administration's coalition agreement seeks a much stricter asylum policy. There will be an Asylum Crisis Act and the Spreading Act will be repealed. What that will mean is also something that we are following closely before making any new decisions. That said, there is still a shortage of reception places for the time being, and it is necessary for municipalities to provide reception. COA asked us some time ago to be allowed to dock a reception ship. Our municipality wants to cooperate with that, up to a maximum of 150 reception places. This offers more flexibility than a fixed reception location. We immediately wanted to clarify the duration of the reception. Therefore, we have chosen the period until the end of 2026. This will give the municipality time to look for a more permanent shelter for after that.

The municipality wants the ship to be used not only for asylum seekers but also for status holders. This fits with the desire of the city council, which has advocated sober housing for status holders in a motion. We also believe it is important to provide adequate housing for our own residents. Therefore, we are simultaneously working hard on temporary housing for starters and emergency seekers, for example, flex housing.

COA covers all costs for the reception, housing and care of the asylum seekers and status holders on the reception ship throughout the period. This includes energy, water, port fees, day care, Health and education. These arrangements are laid down in the board agreement and working arrangements. Moreover, in cooperation with COA, funding can also be obtained for other participation activities for the asylum seekers and status holders.

The shelter ship will be moored along the jetty in the Koopvaardijhaven on Kanaalweg Westzijde in Hellevoetsluis.

Why in this place?

Our community does not have many places where a shelter ship of this size can fit. This spot, just outside the Fortress, has all the necessary connections for electricity, water, and other facilities. It is a location where shelter ships have been located before, and where the shelter was good and calm. As an example, other locations require the use of generators that cause noise pollution for 2.5 years. These factors led to the choice of this location.

The ship will remain in place until the end of 2026.

Because the shelter is for a longer period this time, we do not think it fits within the zoning plan. This means that an environmental permit is required. This permit was granted on October 21, 2024. The period for which the permit was granted is temporary, until the end of 2026. This temporary nature is also explicitly named in the environmental permit. The application followed the regular procedure. There is no zoning change.

Prior to granting the environmental permit, the municipality reviewed the application against applicable laws and regulations. Advice was also sought from parties such as the DCMR (Environmental Department Rijnmond), Rijkswaterstaat, the GGD and the Rotterdam Rijnmond Safety Region. Due to the shortage of reception sites and the pressure to open reception sites quickly, the Municipal Executive took a tolerance decision as early as May 28, 2024. This meant that the shelter ship could dock while the permit procedure was still ongoing. 

The ship houses a maximum of 150 asylum seekers and status holders. COA makes every effort to achieve a balanced composition of asylum seekers at the reception location in terms of origin, gender, age and family situation, but is of course dependent on the asylum influx. Most asylum seekers have fled from Syria, followed by Turkey, Yemen, Eritrea and Iran. About three-quarters of the residents are male.

Yes. There are security guards on the ship 24/7 who provide supervision. There is also a site manager present during the day who liaises with the boas, police and fire departments. 

Asylum seekers live independently and attend interviews with the IND, COA, DT&V and Refugee Council. They also prepare for their future with programs or volunteer work at the site. The people living on the ship are allowed to move freely, just like Dutch people. So they are allowed to walk outside, bike, travel, etc. However, adult residents must report every week. They must also abide by COA's house rules. And they are explained their rights and duties, and how we treat each other in the Netherlands. 

The residents must keep their living quarters clean themselves. In addition, the residents have meetings with, for example, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) and Refugee Council. Residents also follow special programs to prepare for their future. This can be on-site or off-site. Some residents do volunteer work or paid work. The latter is only possible under certain Requirements. In addition, COA works with organizations in the area on extra activities for the residents. 

You can read more about daily activities on COA's website.

COA website

This is difficult to predict because it depends on several factors. The length of stay depends on when it is their turn for the next step in the procedure.

Volunteers are always needed. This can vary by location. Functions are, for example, supervisor open learning center where a volunteer together with a COA employee supports residents with (self) study, homework or a computer course. COA is also often looking for teachers of basic Dutch and supervisors in the activity room or in leisure activities. 

Would you like to know what volunteer work is possible at the COA location in Hellevoetsluis? Then contact location manager Ruud Jan Verhoeff at the email address nl 

In addition to volunteers, COA also seeks permanent employees. You can find more information on the COA website.
 

For questions about the reception of refugees in Voorne aan Zee municipality, please contact Waqas Mahboob, program manager at the municipality, at the e-mail address nl or telephone number 14 0181. 

Do you have questions or reports about the temporary shelter during the period the shelter ship is there? Please contact Ruud Jan Verhoeff, COA site manager at nl or by phone at 06-27088206.

If you believe that your house will lose value due to the arrival of this ship, you can apply for disadvantage compensation. You can find more information about this on the page disadvantage compensation. 

No, in our region there are several municipalities that provide shelter. 

Refugees are people who flee their countries because of war or other reasons. Refugees who apply for asylum are called asylum seekers. They are accommodated in asylum seekers' centers (azc's) while their applications for asylum are being processed. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) processes asylum applications. Once asylum seekers are granted residence status in the Netherlands, they are called status holders. From that moment on, they are also entitled to housing in the Netherlands.