Azc Heerenveen English
Newsletter: Small-scale reception location for asylum seekers. This is the translation of the newsletter which was sent to residents of the neighbourhoods Skoatterwâld, Heerenveen North and De Greiden.
If you want to read this information in a language other than English we recommend you to use Google Translate. On this website you have the option to translate our complete website to the language of your preference.
The municipality of Heerenveen wants to cooperate in the establishment of a reception location for asylum seekers. Heerenveen Northeast and Skoatterwâld are the locations that have been identified as most suitable from the research. The site of Roerganger Elementary School, in De Greiden has been designated as a backup location.
We understand that the potential allocation of asylum seekers in your neighbourhood may raise questions. In this newsletter, we provide more information on why we want to accommodate asylum seekers in the municipality of Heerenveen and how the search for suitable locations has progressed. We also give an outlook on the decision-making process by the municipal council. Finally, we provide basic information on what you can expect if asylum seekers are going to live in your neighbourhood.
Recently football clubs sc Heerenveen and vv Heerenveen have decided that they will not make use of the available space in Skoatterwâld to expand their sporting facilities. As a result, the land is fully available for housing construction. Whether the backup location is still needed depends on the municipal council.
Decision-making by the Municipal Council
The municipal council has not yet made a decision on where asylum seekers will be accommodated in our municipality. This newsletter provides information on the research into suitable locations and the proposal that the board of mayor and aldermen is submitting to the council.
The municipal council will decide on Thursday, January 30, regarding the proposal from the board about small-scale accommodation for asylum seekers. The opinion-forming committee meeting is on January 9, 2025. Citizens can not state their opinion in this meeting. Both meetings will take place at the town hall. The meetings can be followed live from home (both meetings will be in Dutch.)
Registration
For fire safety reasons, there is a maximum number of seats available in the town hall. If you would like to attend the meeting, we kindly ask you to register via the website (in Dutch.)
Heerenveen wants to contribute
In the Netherlands, additional reception places are needed for asylum seekers. The municipality of Heerenveen wants to contribute to this. National legislation also states that the municipality of Heerenveen must provide 277 places for asylum seekers.
Many municipalities are already offering places, which means that the province of Fryslân is currently meeting the target. However, other reception locations in Fryslân have an expiration date, meaning that the municipality of Heerenveen still needs to contribute.
Heerenveen wants small-scale reception locations
A regular asylum seekers’ center (azc) has between 500 and 1,000 residents. At the end of February this year, our municipal council asked the board of mayor and aldermen to investigate whether 277 residents spread across two or more small reception locations in the municipality would also be feasible.
This request responds to the wishes, considerations, and concerns of the community of Heerenveen. With this the council wants to take responsibility for accommodating people in a way that suits the size of the municipality of Heerenveen.
The Search for a Suitable Location
The principle for housing asylum seekers is to create terraced houses in regular residential neighbourhoods.
This is what it could look like in Heerenveen
The image below shows the asylum seekers’ center (AZC) in Burgum. This is how it could look in Heerenveen as well: terraced houses as part of a larger residential neighbourhood.
A total of 35 asylum seeker homes to be distributed across two locations.
Yellow = 19 homes. Green = 16 homes.
In Heerenveen Northeast we want to build 250 homes for all housing seekers. Of these, 16 to 19 homes may be allocated for asylum seekers. In Skoatterwâld, there is space for 150 homes. Of these, 16 to 19 homes may be allocated for asylum seekers. The location in De Greiden can accommodate 50 houses of which 16 to 19 may be allocated for asylum seekers.
The Location Research
31 locations across the entire municipality have been mapped. Not all of these locations are suitable. Nine locations remained where these homes fit both policy-ralted and spatially. The municipality owns the land for five of these locations. We have engaged with residents, businesses, and social organizations about these five locations, as they know best what is happening in the area. The insights from these discussions are part of the research.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the research is that small-scale reception is possible. It can also be done at multiple locations. However, there are no locations that are clearly better than others. So, how was the choice of locations made?
Weighing Different Perspectives
How were the location choices made? Not everyone looks at the issue with the same perspective. Some focus more on costs, others on housing stock, some on safety, and there are various other perspectives through which the situation can be viewed.
Choice of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen
The board of mayor and aldermen proposes to the municipal council to designate the locations Skoatterwâld and Heerenveen Northeast as the most suitable for small-scale reception. De Greiden has been designated as a back-up location.
The board has chosen for these locations because they find it important that the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) provides a full package of services, including 24/7 security, permanent guidance, and healthcare. This can be achieved by having two locations close to each other. Heerenveen also offers a larger range of activities and has the most job opportunities. Additionally, in Heerenveen, it is possible to build extra homes for asylum seekers alongside the existing housing plans, which is not possible in the villages.
How are decisions made in a municipality?
Every four years, elections are held for the municipal council, the highest governing body of the municipality. Dutch citizens may vote for the political party they believe represents their interests at best.
The municipal council in Heerenveen consists of 31 council members who determine policy and make important decisions, such as the municipality’s expenditures and regulations. Council members usually do this as a second job alongside their regular work.
The board of mayor and aldermen manages the municipality on a daily basis and implements the council’s decisions, with help from civil servants.
On many topics, the board proposes to the council. The council decides in two steps. First, the council meets in a committee meeting to form an opinion. As a resident, you can speak at this meeting. Then, the council makes a decision during the council meeting.
This also applies to the location choice for small-scale reception of asylum seekers. As stated before the board of mayor and aldermen has decided to propose Skoatterwâld and Heerenveen Northeast.
The municipal council will meet in January to decide whether to adopt this decision or take a different one.
The next steps
After the announcement of the locations submitted by the board to the council, there was a public consultation meeting on November 25. Residents and stakeholders shared their opinions with the council. You can watch this meeting on our website. (in Dutch only.)
Committee meeting
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, there will be another committee meeting. Council and committee members will discuss their opinions. Citizens can not state their opinion in this meeting.
Decision-making
The municipal council will decide on Thursday, January 30, which locations it wants to offer to the COA.
Both meetings will take place in the town hall. They can be followed live from home: (meetings will be in Dutch.)
Registration
For fire safety reasons, there is a maximum number of seats available in the Council Chamber. If you would like to attend the town hall, we kindly ask you to register via the website (in Dutch.)
What happens after the council’s decision on January 30
After the council’s decision, much work remains to be done. The municipality will do this in cooperation with the COA, local residents, and associations and other organizations in the neighborhood. At each location, we will form a so called “Meibou Group.” This is Frisian (local language) for: co-building process.
What does the ‘Meibou Group’ do?
In these “Meibou Groups,” we want to collaborate with the people mentioned above to ensure a good setup for the reception locations and a successful collaboration between the reception center, residents, and neighbourhoods. The precise details and working method of the “Meibou Group” are still being worked on.
You may have more questions
We understand that you may still have questions. Where will the homes be exactly be located, what will they look like, and what does this mean for our living environment? What can you expect?
Many of these questions we cannot fully answer yet. Once the municipal council decides which locations they propose to the COA, the municipality will sign a contract with the COA. The specific circumstances of each neighbourhood will be considered in the implementation of these agreements.
An example agreement already provides some insight into what facilities the COA will offer. Below, you can read what you can expect.
Healthcare
- Like everyone else, asylum seekers can visit a general practitioner, a midwife, or a hospital.
- Each asylum seeker center has a general practitioner holding office hours.
- The Public Health Service is responsible for public healthcare. This includes, among other things, infectious disease prevention and control, health education, and youth healthcare.
- Upon arrival in the Netherlands, the GGD conducts mandatory tuberculosis screening for asylum seekers from countries where tuberculosis is prevalent.
Education
- Like all other children, children in reception centers are allowed to go to school.
- The municipality is responsible for the housing and setup of educational facilities. This does not cost the municipality extra money, as it is reimbursed by the National government.
Safety
- Maintaining safety within the reception center is the responsibility of the COA.
- The COA employs security personnel. They staff the reception and patrol the premises.
- To keep reception centers safe and livable, the COA has house rules that asylum seekers must adhere to in all (emergency) reception locations.
- The municipality is alert to maintaining and ensuring a safe living environment. The municipality works together with the COA and partners to achieve this.
Work and Guidance
- The COA assists asylum seekers in shaping their future.
- The COA makes an effort to offer as many daytime activities as possible within the reception center (such as recreational activities, Dutch language lessons).
- An asylum seeker is allowed to work in the Netherlands, provided their asylum application has been under consideration for at least 6 months.
Would you like to get in touch with council members?
Council members are happy to speak with you. Visit heerenveen.nl/gemeenteraad for their contact details.
