AZC Nuenen Welcomes Its First Residents

On September 8, 2026, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) welcomed the first residents to the asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast in Nuenen. A total of 159 housing spots are available for a period of five to 10 years.

The arrival of the refugees is deliberately small-scale and carefully organized, with a view to ensuring the privacy and peace of the new residents. The refugees will arrive in Nuenen over the course of three days. On September 8, 56 new residents arrived; on September 9, 46 will arrive; and on September 11, another 37. The remaining 20 people will follow in the weeks after that.

Composition of the Residents' Group

The group of residents is diverse: so far, it includes a total of 21 different nationalities. Refugees from Syria make up the largest group, followed by people from Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Uganda, Tunisia, and Moldova, among others.

The group consists of 26 families, with 9 children under the age of 3 and 32 children between the ages of 4 and 17. Twenty-four children are of elementary school age, and there are 8 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 who are attending high school. In the coming period, meetings will be held with school principals to ensure that the children are placed in appropriate schools. In addition to the families, there are also 9 single women and 34 single men among the new residents. Of the total group of residents, 17 people are between the ages of 60 and 80.

The new residents of the asylum seekers’ center in Nuenen are coming from six different reception centers, including Ter Apel, Laarbeek, and Duiven. This is a relatively large group of people who have been in the Netherlands for some time and are already well along in the process of obtaining residency status. The remaining individuals have just arrived in the Netherlands and are coming to Nuenen after undergoing screening in Ter Apel.

Meeting and connecting are central

Volunteers play an important role in the launch of the asylum seekers’ center and in bringing together and connecting Nuenen residents and newcomers. About 85 residents have already signed up to help out—for example, by participating in a Walk&Talk through downtown Nuenen. Volunteers will guide the new residents through the town center, explaining where to go for various services and how things work in Nuenen. Volunteers will also serve as language buddies, helping residents learn Dutch. More activities are planned for the future, and volunteers are warmly welcome to participate. They can sign up with the COA:fmznuenen@coa.nl.

Come visit the asylum seeker center on Neighbors' Day

Saturday, September 26, is National Neighbors’ Day. This day is all about meeting and connecting. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the doors of the AZC on Pastoorsmast will be open to all residents. Are you curious about the facility and life inside the shelter? During the open house, you can tour the facility, meet staff members, and learn more about the day-to-day operations of the shelter. You’re very welcome!

Neighborhood Residents' Meeting

Regular meetings are held with residents living in the immediate vicinity of the asylum seekers’ center. Following an initial meeting in July, the COA will soon organize the second residents’ meeting. During these meetings, local residents, the COA, and municipal representatives discuss what is going well and jointly identify issues that require attention. There is also time for questions, concerns, ideas, and points for consideration. We also share information about daily life at the facility and the experiences of our residents. In this way, we foster mutual understanding and stay connected with one another.

Stay informed

Would you like to stay up to date on the latest news from the reception center? Sign up for the COA newsletter atFMZNuenen@coa.nl. In the newsletter, the COA shares current developments, activities, and stories from the center, so you can stay well-informed about what’s happening. 

The municipality publishes up-to-date information about the asylum seekers’ center (AZC) and answers to frequently asked questions at https://www.nuenen.nl/azc. We also share updates on the day-to-day operations of the AZC in the municipal section of the local newspaper *Rond de Linde* and on the municipality’s social media channels. 

Contact Information for the Nuenen Asylum Seekers' Center

The COA and the municipality believe it is important to maintain a good relationship with the local community. Together, we ensure a pleasant living environment for everyone. Do you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, or would you like to share something with us? Please feel free to contact us:

Site Manager: Roger Vranken,fmznuenen@coa.nl, Tel. 06 27 59 23 64