Latest News from the Nuenen Asylum Seekers' Center
September 30, 2026 - Open day attracts many visitors
Saturday, September 26, 2026, was both Neighbours' Day and Open Asylum Seekers' Centre Day. The COA threw the doors of the location at Pastoorsmast wide open for all Nuenen residents who wanted to take a look and get to know the new fellow villagers.
The men, women, and children living at the asylum seekers' centre waited for their visitors outside in the courtyard and struck up spontaneous conversations. They offered tasty homemade snacks, and some even invited the visitors to take a look behind their front doors. Children could let off steam on a bouncy castle and the permanent playground equipment on the grounds, or kick a ball around together on the small football pitch. The interest continued throughout the afternoon, and by the end of the day, the visitor count stood at over 700.
September 8, 2026 — The Nuenen Asylum Seekers' Center 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 athttps://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.
July 14, 2026 - City Council and City Executive Committee speak out against violence, intimidation, and threats throughout our community
The City Council and the Mayor and Aldermen strongly condemn any form of violence, threats, intimidation, and vandalism in Nuenen, Gerwen, and Nederwetten. The incident at the asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast is serious and gives us cause to issue this broader statement. Differences of opinion, including on sensitive topics, must never lead to fear, threats, vandalism, or violence. Everyone in our municipality has the right to a safe living environment and to be treated with respect.
July 8, 2026 - The municipality, the COA, and local residents are preparing for the opening of the asylum seekers' center in Nuenen
On Wednesday evening, July 8, 2026, during the first community meeting, the municipality, the COA, and local residents discussed the opening of the asylum seekers’ center and further cooperation regarding safety, quality of life, and engagement with the local community. On September 8, Nuenen will welcome the first residents of the asylum seekers’ center. In total, the asylum seekers’ center will accommodate 159 people: a mixed group of families and single individuals (no minors) who are going through the asylum process in the Netherlands. They will be housed in living quarters of various sizes, with the option to cook for themselves. Play areas have been set up for families with children.
A regular asylum seekers’ center is being established in Nuenen; it is not a registration center or emergency shelter. It is intended for residents who are expected to stay at the location for an extended period of time. This will result in a stable group of residents rather than a constant turnover of new residents.
Alderman Walravens: “We know that the arrival of the asylum seekers’ center raises questions and concerns. That is precisely why we believe it is important to maintain an open dialogue with local residents. The arrival of the asylum center is a done deal. Our focus is now on ensuring a safe, well-managed facility and on fostering good cooperation with the immediate neighbors. I am confident that, together—as a municipality, the COA, and local residents—we will handle this well.”
Collaboration
During the meeting with local residents, there were many practical questions about the building’s accessibility and additional crosswalks, as well as concerns about the impact of illegal fireworks on the residents of the asylum seekers’ center. Questions were also raised about the composition of the target group. The COA cannot yet provide any details about the exact composition of the group coming to Nuenen, but it has been agreed that a meeting with local residents will be held shortly after the opening to discuss this and other matters.
Building trust continues to require the attention and time of all parties involved. This evening marks an important step in the collaboration between local residents, the asylum center’s site manager, the community police officer, Alderman responsible Alderman the mayor. Concerns about safety expressed by local residents have, in most cases, been addressed with a call to report any incidents or feelings of insecurity. The COA has set up a hotline that residents of Nuenen can contact 24/7.
Follow-up steps
On September 8, the first residents will arrive at the asylum seekers’ center. Just before the opening, immediate neighbors will have the opportunity to take a sneak peek inside the center. On Saturday, September 26, during Neighbors’ Day, the COA will host an open house, and everyone from Nuenen is welcome to come take a look.
You, too, can help make the asylum seekers’ center a success. Are you interested in volunteering? If so, please sign up at fmznuenen@coa.nl.Het. The COA will work with interested individuals to determine what kind of assistance is needed at any given time.