Reception of refugees by COA at Pastoorsmast Nuenen

The independent objections committee of the municipality of Nuenen c.a. will hold hearings in December 2025 and January 2026 on objections filed against the granted environmental permits for the temporary asylum seekers' center at Pastoorsmast 7, 9 and 11 in Nuenen. 

Objections were filed against the following decisions:

• the environmental permit for the spatial procedure for the establishment of a temporary asylum seekers' center at Pastor's Mast 7, 9 and 11 (case number 1967442);
• the environmental permit for the erection of two temporary residential buildings and the construction of a temporary roadway to serve the asylum seekers' center at Pastoorsmast 9 and 11 (case number 2321140);
• The environmental permit for the erection of a temporary service building and outbuildings to serve the asylum seekers' center at 7 Pastoorsmast (case number 2487134).

Objectors may explain their objection orally

The hearings are designed to give objectors an opportunity to verbally explain their objection to the committee. The hearing is not a public participation opportunity or consultation on the policy regarding the AZC. Only objectors are given the floor. Observers may attend the hearing but not participate in the discussion.

Interested parties may attend as listeners

The hearings are open to the public. Interested parties may attend as listeners. Spectators may not contribute to the discussion, bring banners, posters or other expressions. All attendees are requested to respect order during the hearing. To avoid disturbance, no one is allowed to leave the room during the session. The session will be opened and closed together.

Audience members must sign in 

Due to the large number of expected attendees, registration is required. The registration deadline has passed. If you still wish to attend, please send an email with your name and address to bezwaar@nuenen.nl. You can indicate your preference for a specific hearing date. We will then try to process your request. In that case, you will receive a confirmation email and further information about the proceedings during the hearing.

There is room for up to 90 attendees per hearing.

A maximum of 90 people may attend each hearing. This maximum applies to all attendees combined, including the appeals committee, appellants, representatives of the COA, the board, and the audience. This maximum number is strictly enforced due to the available space and fire safety regulations at the location. If the maximum number of attendees for a date has been reached, you may be assigned to another date. If the other dates are also full, you may unfortunately not be able to attend. 

Without registration, there is no point in coming to the hearing

Security will be present during the hearings. Security checks upon entry to ensure that you have registered in advance. Only registered listeners will be granted access to the room.

Dates and location of hearings

The hearings will take place at Het Klooster Temporalis, De Pinckart 24, 5674 CC in Nuenen, on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 at 7 p.m;
• Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 7 p.m;
• Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 at 7 p.m;
• Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The municipality of Nuenen received 1059 objections during the objection period against one or more of the three permits granted for the asylum seekers' center (azc) at the Pastoorsmast. All objections are now being reviewed individually by the independent objections committee. 

Independent commission handles objections

The municipality attaches great importance to the independent handling of objections. That is why there is an independent Objections Committee. This committee advises the municipal executive on the decision on an objection. After the Appeals Committee has issued its advice, the administrative body makes a decision on the objection. The governing body may follow the committee's advice, but may also deviate from it, giving reasons. 

The appeals committee holds hearings

All objectors to the permits for the asylum seekers' center were able to indicate at the time they filed their objection whether they wanted to be heard in person. Those who wish to be heard will be given the opportunity to briefly explain their objection during one of the special hearings of the Objections Committee. They will receive a personal invitation from the commission for this purpose. These hearings are expected to take place in January 2026. For the hearings to run smoothly, registration for the hearing is mandatory. It is also possible to attend a hearing as an observer. Registration is also required for this. We will share more information on this page as soon as the dates for the hearings are set.

The college makes a decision on the objections after the committee's advice

The appeals committee advises the college on a decision on each of the appeals submitted. The college then decides whether to adopt the committee's advice or not. If the college does not adopt the decision, it will give reasons why it does not do so. The submitters of the objections are then notified.

COA is already conducting work

During the objection period, COA is performing work at its own risk on the Pastor's Mast property. This is permitted because filing an objection does not have a suspensive effect. This means that a decision remains in effect and can be implemented even if it is objected to or appealed. COA expects to land and place the units for the service building from Nov. 10-13, 2025. The foundation slabs for this have been laid. Before the Christmas vacations, the foundation will be poured for the two residential buildings. The residential buildings will then follow from Feb. 6, 2026, and their placement will take about a week and a half. For all the work, the premise is that the Parson's Mast will remain accessible to through traffic and the adjacent addresses accessible. 

Image explanation:

• The road at the top is Pastor's Mast. Parking is on private property.
• Purple is the office building where 24/7 security is also present
• The Orange buildings are the residential buildings. Playgrounds are provided on the site and on the Hemel Hempstead side also a sports field and a pedestrian exit to the bike path.

During the week of Oct. 6, the foundation slabs for the Services Building will be installed.

During the week of Sept. 22, contractor Spie will start work on behalf of COA at the site of the asylum seekers' center at Pastoorsmast. This involves smoothing out the terrain. The water meter pit will also be delivered to the site that week. That will be installed the following week. Then the sewer pumping station will also be delivered and installed. 

The College of Mayor and Aldermen has decided to grant the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) the environmental permits for the temporary asylum seekers' center (azc) at the Pastoorsmast. It concerns the following permits:

• Environmental Permit for Spatial Procedure Municipal Gazette 2025, 382449 | Government.com > Official Notices;
• Environmental permit for the erection of two temporary residential buildings and the construction of a temporary roadway Municipal Gazette 2025, 382450 | Government.com > Official Notices;
• Environmental permit to erect a temporary service building Municipal Gazette 2025, 382410 | Government.com > Official Notices. 

These decisions were officially published on government.com on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Objections may be filed against the decisions. Objections must be received no later than October 13, 2025. COA may already be carrying out work on the Pastor's Mast site during the objection period. It does so at its own risk.

At the Pastor's Mast, up to 159 people will receive housing and supervision from COA. This number conforms to the requirements of the dispersal law. The shelter is intended for 5 years, with the possibility of extending it for up to 5 years. This has been taken into account in the licensing process. COA expects to receive the first refugees in Nuenen in the summer of 2026 at the earliest.

In the management agreement with COA, the municipality has made clear agreements on order and safety, both at the reception site itself for the residents and outside. There will also be regular consultations with the immediate neighbors and with residents further afield. COA will set up an Environmental Management Group for this purpose in due course.

A mapping survey will take place at the Pastor's Mast site on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. A cartographic survey is used to determine if archaeological remains are present in the soil. The excavated soil will be described and sieved to check for the presence of finds in the soil. The survey is expected to last all day.

From Tuesday, August 12 to Friday, August 15, 2025, work will take place on the speed bump at the intersection of Boschhoeve and Society Road. This is necessary to improve traffic safety and driving comfort. The existing traffic threshold will be repaired and adjusted where necessary. Hereby the paving will be partly removed and reinstalled. Jansen Infra B.V. will carry out the work daily between 07:00 and 15:45.

What do you notice?

During the work, the intersection will be closed to through traffic. A temporary detour route has been established. Cyclists and pedestrians can usually pass the work, but please allow for limited passage. Homes and businesses will remain accessible. Please do not park vehicles on or along the road. Although we will do our utmost to keep inconvenience to a minimum, you may experience some inconvenience due to the work. We ask for your understanding.

Questions or comments?

Do you have any questions or comments about the work? Please contact the Jansen Infra B.V. foreman: Bas Boerenkamp (phone: 088 877 87 78, e-mail: bboerenkamp@ajansenbv.com).

Do you have any complaints about the work? Please contact the environmental manager of Jansen Infra B.V.: Jacques Geers (phone: 06 53 11 57 65, e-mail: geers@ajansenbv.com).

At the end of this month, contractor Jansen Infra B.V. will start implementing the prerequisite projects for the asylum seekers' center (azc) on behalf of the Municipality of Nuenen. These are traffic engineering measures to improve safety, accessibility and livability in the vicinity of the future azc, taking into account the increase in the number of (slow) traffic movements in the area. The municipality has agreed with the sounding board group for the reception of refugees, in which residents and associations from the vicinity of the future asylum seekers' center azc on the Pastoorsmast have participated, to carry out these civil projects before the arrival of the azc. Preparations are also being made for a sewer connection for the azc.

Planning work

Work will begin on Monday, April 28, 2025 and will take place over a scattered area around the Pastor's Mast and on Peelland Avenue. We expect the work to be completed by the end of June.

Phase 1:
Construction of pressure pipeline Hoog Nouwland, Maatschappijweg, Pastoorsmast
Monday, April 28, 2025 through Thursday, May 15, 2025

Phase 2:
Modification of Old Country-Society Road intersection; installation of markings at intersection Pastor's Mast parking lot soccer club; construction of sidewalks Pastor's Mast and Hemelsepad
Monday, May 12, 2025 through Monday, June 30, 2025

Phase 3:
Modification of Peellandlaan-Hemelsepad intersection; construction of Peellandlaan sidewalk
Monday, May 26, 2025 through Friday, June 20, 2025

What do you notice?

During the work, homes and businesses will remain accessible. You may experience some inconvenience to reach or leave your property with a car or other motor vehicle. Please do not park any vehicles on or along the road. If work is being done in front of your driveway, the contractor will coordinate with you in advance. Although we make every effort to minimize inconvenience, you may experience some inconvenience from our work. We ask for your understanding.

A temporary detour route will be required during Phase 2 and Phase 3 work. 

Questions or comments

Do you have any questions or comments about the work? Please contact the manager of Jansen Infra B.V.:
Bas Boerenkamp
Phone: 088 877 87 78
E-mail: bboerenkamp@ajansenbv.com

Do you have any complaints about the work? Please contact the environmental manager of Jansen Infra B.V.:
Jacques Geers
Phone: 06 53 11 57 65
E-mail: jgeers@ajansenbv.com

For other information, please contact the Municipality of Nuenen at 040 263 16 31.

The soil borings scheduled for the week of March 24 were not completed as scheduled. This is now being done. On April 3 and 10, a research firm will conduct soil testing. This will be done with hand drills. They are also installing drilling for groundwater on April 3, the results of which they will pick up a week later.

Faster than expected, the contractor is starting work today on the construction of public lighting on Hemelsepad. The existing lighting will be expanded with 8 light poles to improve (traffic) safety for cyclists and pedestrians on the bicycle and walking route Hemelsepad. The work will be carried out by Konings Group and is expected to be completed by the end of this week. During the work, Hemelsepad will remain accessible for slow traffic as usual. 

The area Pastoorsmast is frequently used by dog owners to let their dogs out and run loose. Since this will soon no longer be possible, we would like to point dog owners to alternatives in the area. There are several dog walking areas around the Pastoorsmast. 

Last Monday, January 13, Mayor Van Toorenburg signed the board agreement with COA. On behalf of COA, board member Joeri Kapteijns put his signature. With this, the agreements surrounding the arrival of an asylum seekers' center at the Pastoorsmast are now officially recorded.

Agreement        

The management agreement contains the agreements on the division of tasks, rights and duties of both the municipality and COA. The most important:

• It will house 159 people.
• The shelter is intended for 5 years, with the possibility of extending it for up to 5 years.
• As stated in the safety plan, consultation with local residents is very important. The municipality and the COA organize this consultation together with local residents, associations, and other stakeholders. This takes place well before the reception center opens. After the start, the consultation takes place regularly. This allows us to stay in touch and share experiences. Ideas and suggestions from the local community are welcome.
• There are clear arrangements for order and safety, both on site for residents and off site. 

The Omgevingswet permit application is pending with the municipality. It was submitted in late 2023 and COA is still completing the application with the spatial substantiation in the areas of soil, water, traffic and external safety, among others. The site must be restored to its original state after the azc closes. This requires a modified foundation. Various studies for fire safety, nitrogen, noise, air and energy supply will also be included. When the permit application is complete, the municipality will make a decision.

In anticipation of construction and permitting, work is underway on the Pastor's Mast property to install cables and pipes.

On behalf of the College of B&W, the mayor signs the management agreement that the college enters into with COA. The board agreement incorporates the City Council's motion of March 21, 2024. This agreement, including the accompanying security plan, will then be published on this page.

The municipality and COA will enter into a lease agreement for the lease of the site at Pastor's Mast to COA.

The city council has made a livability pot of €50,000 available for activities that contribute to livability in the vicinity of the asylum seekers' center. RKSV Nuenen and Scouting Panta Rhei will receive part of the amount in the form of a subsidy. The other part is available for initiatives by people living in the vicinity of the asylum seekers' center that improve the quality of life. Initiators can submit an application to the municipality for this purpose. 

The area where the asylum center will be located will no longer be usable as a dog walking area and playground. The municipality is Map the current use and exploring alternatives.

COA uses the following concept planning for the realization of the azc. COA has recently been working on the technical details of the above-ground and underground infrastructure and the buildings. The service building will house the offices of COA and its chain partners for health care and refugee work. In addition, the general areas for the residents will be located there. In accordance with the management agreement, the residential buildings may not house more than 159 residents. 

The final checks are now being made for the planning permission application and the 'building' permit application for the residential building. For the service building, the documents for the 'building' permit are being prepared. These permits are expected to be issued in early 2025. COA will then begin the underground work, installation of the units and, finally, the above-ground work and furnishing. Completion is expected to take place in late Q3 / early Q4 2025.

The municipality is carrying out 8 preconditional, civil projects in the vicinity of the azc on the Pastoorsmast. These projects are conditional because they must be completed before the asylum seekers' center becomes operational. They involve civil and/or traffic adjustments to improve safety, accessibility and livability in the vicinity of the asylum seekers' center. We take into account an increase in the number of (slow) traffic movements in the area. The projects originate from the consultations with the sounding board group and have been further elaborated on the basis of traffic engineering recommendations. Below we indicate for each project what we will do.

1) Intersection Oude Landen - Maatschappijweg
- Maintain existing right of way arrangement (equivalent);
- Apply intersection plateau 30 km/hour, including connections Boschhoeve and the separate bicycle path. This plateau will be executed in brick pavement;
- Install traffic signs;
- Have footpath from Pastoorsmast to main entrance azc connected to the plateau.

2) Intersection Pastoorsmast - parking lot Soccer Club
- Retain existing right of way arrangement;
- Retain current implementation;
- Add continuous suggestion lanes (broken line) and refresh existing lines;
- Install traffic signs supporting right of way arrangement;
- Trim overhanging greenery where necessary.

3) Connection Peellandlaan Hemelsepad and 4) Construction footpath Peellandlaan
- Maintain existing right of way arrangement (equivalent).
- Install raised intersection plateau 30 km/h with speed bumps. This platform will be constructed of brick paving.
- Allow a separate bicycle path to connect at right angles to Peellandlaan.
- Construct new footpath along the south side of Peellandlaan and allow it to connect to the existing footpath along Hemelsepad.

5) Construct footpath azc to Hemelsepad
- Allow footpath from Pastoorsmast to main entrance azc to connect to platform.

6) Clean up Sky Path and 7) Clear Sky Path tunnel
- Install missing public lighting on the paths.
- Prune the public greenery and sweep the asphalt.

8) Modify bike cross track and footpaths
- After construction of the azc, we will review which routes for the bike cross track and footpaths need to be modified.
- Construct footpath from the azc to Hemelsepad.

Specifications drawings for the prerequisite projects have been prepared and are available for inspection. Soon the work will be put out to tender and a contractor will be selected. Communication about the implementation will take place in the usual way via the website and in Rond de Linde and De Nuenense Krant.

On Nov. 25, the company Kenter will install a transformer station at the site. For this, a foundation will first be laid. On November 26, the substation will be equipped with an earth stake. By striking an earth pin, overvoltages, caused by short circuits due to lightning for example, are immediately conducted to the ground. This prevents possible damage to buildings and electrical equipment.

Enexis will connect the station to the power grid during the week of December 9. Before that, they will still be digging in cables. 

On Sept. 24, 2024, COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) applied for a permit for the establishment of an asylum seekers' center and, more specifically, for the construction of the housing units and the layout of the site. This is one of the permits that COA has submitted or will submit in order to establish the asylum seekers' center at the Pastoorsmast. The application will be published on the Overheid.nl website.

In late 2023, COA already applied for a permit to deviate from the zoning plan. That application was incomplete but has since been completed. The municipality will now process it further.

Some additional permit applications are expected to follow. These include the installation of a service building and the fire-safe use of the asylum center.

On Thursday, June 13, starting at 8 a.m., soundings will be conducted at the AZC site on Pastor's Mast. This survey will determine the bearing capacity of the soil.

On Monday, June 3, 2024, an infiltration survey will be conducted at the site for the asylum seekers' center on Pastor's Mast. This is expected to last all day.

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, COA will take site measurements at the site for the asylum seekers' center on Pastor's Mast. These measurements are necessary to make technical drawings of the site.

On March 21, 2024, the City Council adopted the amended frameworks for the development, realization and operation of the Pastoorsmast shelter site. These frameworks form the starting points for the management agreement that the college concludes with COA. This council decision enables the establishment of an asylum seekers' center at the Pastoorsmast. 

Numbers, duration and composition

The asylum center at Pastoorsmast will provide housing for 159 asylum seekers for five years, with the intention to extend the agreement to 10 years. An annual evaluation will take place. With the number of 159, Nuenen exactly meets the task imposed on our municipality by the dispersal law. The inflow will be phased. The management agreement that the college concludes with COA includes the stipulation that COA will make every effort to achieve a balanced composition of the group of asylum seekers to be received. Maximum efforts will be made to place asylum seekers who have prospects of later placement in the region.

Safety Plan

A comprehensive and concrete security plan is attached to the management agreement. This plan describes the consultation structure between all administrative stakeholders (the city council, COA, the security triangle and the security region). The plan also contains a description of the consultation and communication with local residents and all stakeholders of Nuenen and the Health a continuous process of monitoring. In addition, the plan contains a clear description of security, both on the asylum seekers' center grounds and in the surrounding area, and a clear procedure in case of incidents with guaranteed follow-up. Finally, the security plan will include the possibility to immediately terminate the agreement in case of serious calamities.

Flanking projects and livability pot

The council agreed to the proposed budget of €50,000 for a liveability pot that can be quickly deployed for matters that benefit the liveability around the asylum seekers' center. Budget has also been made available for the implementation of a number of flanking projects in the vicinity of the asylum seekers' center. These projects are the result of consultations between the municipality and the sounding board group for the reception of refugees. They involve interventions in public spaces aimed at (traffic) safety, accessibility and thus also the quality of life in the direct vicinity of the asylum seekers' center. These projects must be realized before the azc is put into use. The cost of this is very roughly estimated at €200,000. Both amounts will be covered by the Ukrainian budget, which is also intended for the broad target group of refugees.

How does it go from here?

The municipal project team and board now continue to work on the board agreement that the college enters into with COA and elaborate the associated security plan. Work will also begin on the development, scheduling and implementation of the flanking projects.

At the same time, the permit process is ongoing; COA applied to the municipality for an environmental permit in December 2023. COA will adapt and further complete that application to the new frameworks, after which it can be processed. You cannot object to the application; you can only do so after the municipality has made a decision. The municipality's decision will be published on https://www.overheid.nl. Would you like to know how to object? Please visit https://www.nuenen.nl

Want to stay informed?

This page is constantly updated with new reports on the development of the asylum seekers' center. We also publish important notices in the municipal notices in local newspapers.

The agenda committee decided to include the decision on the azc in the regular council meeting of March 21, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chamber in the Klooster. This cancels the previously communicated date of March 13.

Feb. 19, 2024 - The dates for the City Council's consideration of the council proposal Refugee Reception Site Pastoorsmast have been changed. The judging evening on this topic will take place on Monday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the council chamber in the Klooster. Decision-making will follow on Wednesday, March 13.

Are you for or against?

During an agenda item, speakers may express their views in the first term, after which council and citizen members may ask additional questions. If you would like to speak, please sign up by Friday, Feb. 23, at 12:00 p.m. via nuenen.nl/doe-kijk-en-luister-mee (right to speak) or email Municipal Clerk’s Office

The meeting can also be followed live at nuenen.councilinformation.com/Live(external link) and LON TV(external link).

COA has submitted to the municipality of Nuenen an application for an environmental permit for the establishment of a temporary AZC, Nuenen C 3036. This application has been registered under case number 08201967442. You can view the application at www.overheid.nl/berichten-over-uw-buurt. If you subscribe to the e-mail service, you will automatically receive messages.

You cannot object to a permit application. You cannot do so until a decision has been made. The municipality makes a decision on the application only after the city council has expressed its opinion on the AZC and its intended location. A council proposal has been submitted for this purpose. The date on which the council will consider the proposal has not yet been set by the agenda committee. As soon as that date is known, we will announce it on our web page and in the local newspaper. For information about council meetings and opportunities to speak, please visit the council information website. After publication by the Municipal Clerk’s Office, prior to the council meeting, you can view the council proposal there.

The City Council wishes to hold a public discussion on the frameworks for the development, realization and operation of the Pastor's Mast shelter site. A council proposal has been written for this purpose. The council proposal also includes (budget for) the realization of the preconditional projects, which have emerged from the efforts of the sounding board group.

The date on which the council will consider the proposal has not yet been set by the agenda committee. As soon as that date is known, we will announce it on our web page and in council notices in the door-to-door newspapers. For information about council meetings and opportunities to speak, please visit the council information website at www.nuenen.nl/gemeenteraad. After publication by the Municipal Clerk’s Office, prior to the meeting, you can view the council proposal there.

Administrative agreement with COA

The frameworks included in the council proposal form the starting points for the management agreement that the Municipal Executive concludes with COA for the reception of refugees at the Pastoorsmast. Following the council's decision, the municipality and COA will discuss the management agreement further. In this management agreement, the college wants to make agreements about the number of refugees we will receive in Nuenen, the duration of the agreement, evaluation moments, the target group and community participation. A Security Care Memorandum is also part of the management agreement.

During the summer period, the municipality's consultations with both COA and the refugee reception sounding board group were largely halted. After the summer, the process was resumed. With this message we inform you of recent developments.

Consultation sounding board group refugee reception

After the first walk-in meeting for local residents last May, the sounding board group for the reception of refugees was established. Together with the municipality, this sounding board group is thinking about possible solutions to the various issues and concerns that local residents expressed in the May 10 and July 3 residents' meetings. This is being done under the guidance of the municipality's project group. The starting point for the meetings is that the azc will be located at the Pastoorsmast.

In the sounding board group, the residents of the Boschhoeve, Kremersbos, Schietbergen, Tweevoren and Zandschel neighborhoods are represented. The associations located at the Pastoorsmast, the Almost Home Home Latesteyn, the churches and the LEV group are also members of the sounding board group.

In recent meetings, the focus group brainstormed on the following topics:

• Setting up the asylum seekers' center
• Traffic structure in the vicinity of the asylum center
• Other issues around the asylum center
• Security care azc
• Activities and volunteers
• Working together at the asylum center

All ideas and suggestions from the sounding board group will be examined by the municipality in terms of feasibility and integration into the plans for the asylum seekers' centre and worked out in detail. The municipality will provide feedback to the sounding board group on the proposals and what has been done with them. The implementation of some of the sounding board group's proposals may require an additional budget. The college will then submit an application to the council for this.

Administrative agreement with COA

Preparatory talks are currently taking place at the official level between the municipality's refugee reception project manager and COA advisors. The purpose of those talks is to reach a board agreement between the college and COA for the reception of refugees at the Pastoorsmast. Talks at the board level between the Alderman social affairs and COA management will follow. In the board agreement, the college wants to make agreements on the number of refugees to be accommodated in Nuenen, the duration of the agreement, evaluation moments, the composition of the group to be accommodated (think of the phase of the asylum procedure in which refugees find themselves) and environmental participation. The Security Care Memorandum (as an annex) is also part of the management agreement.

In addition to the management agreement, COA will apply to the municipality for an environmental permit to establish the asylum center. The municipality has not yet received an application. All permit applications are published on www.overheid.nl and in the municipal notices in the local door-to-door newspapers.

Opinion TRK

In September, the Spatial Quality Team (TRK) of the municipality of Nuenen advised on the integration of the asylum seekers' center into its surroundings based on an initial rough sketch. The TRK advocates higher residential buildings on the side of the Pastoorsmast to create more space on the site. Keywords: friendly, open, subdued and with natural colors. The TRK indicates that if you design the place nicely, residents will feel more comfortable and that helps with neighborhood acceptance. The TRK organized a mini-workshop to help COA further develop the initial site sketch. The TRK will advise again on the final design.

City Council involvement

The City Council asked the Alderman at the July 13 council meeting to further shape the process with the council in September.

On September 26, council members, together with members of the college, visited the azc on the Kanaaldijk in Eindhoven. COA provided a tour and explanation. Afterwards, Alderman Niels Wouters and project leader Simon Le Fèvre talked to the council about the process from development to realization of COA's reception facility in Nuenen. Discussions included the management agreement which the college is concluding with COA, the spatial procedure, the sounding board group for the reception of refugees and other participation and communication. Attention was also paid to the timeline and the steering of the process and there was room for questions and ideas.

During this meeting, the council members asked the Alderman to organize a public discussion in the council about the frameworks for the coming of the azc to Nuenen. The project manager will work out a council proposal for this purpose.

As soon as it is known when the council will consider the proposal, we will announce it on this page and in council notices in the door-to-door newspapers. For information about council meetings and opportunities for residents to speak, please visit the council information website.

The makers of the program 'Bij ons op het AZC' (At our asylum seekers' center) followed 13 residents and employees of the asylum seekers' center in Zutphen for a year. This resulted in "intimate portraits of very 'ordinary' people, living together under a glass bell jar," according to the makers. The series starts today, Monday, October 2, at 10:20 p.m., and can be seen on NPO 2 and NPO Start.

Read more here: https://www.coa.nl/nl/nieuws/tv-serie-bij-ons-op-het-azc and watch the trailer.

Much of what we think we know about life at an AZC comes from what we read in the newspaper or see on TV. Would you like to see for yourself what an AZC is really like, who lives there, what the housing looks like? Then go visit.

On Neighborhood Day, Saturday, September 23, almost all azc locations will open their doors for local residents and other visitors between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. From Nuenen, the nearest participating locations are in Eindhoven, Helmond, Veldhoven and Oirschot. Drink a cup of coffee or tea, meet residents and staff and get an impression of daily life in an asylum seekers' center.

For more information, visit www.coa.nl/openazcdag

We promised to inform the other residents of Nuenen after the people living in the immediate vicinity. We did so on Monday, July 3, during a residents' meeting for all Nuenen residents. We wanted as many different residents as possible to have their say during the meeting. Many questions were therefore asked. Here you will find the presentation of that evening and the 'report' in the form of the (most) frequently asked questions and their answers.

• Memo: Explanation of location choice Pastor's mast
• Investigation locations refugee file Nuenen

There is a humanitarian refugee crisis in the Netherlands. The reception of refugees has stalled and this has been leading to distressing situations for some time. In Brabant alone, the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) needs 2,500 new reception places. The Dutch government is preparing a dispersal law, through which it wants to make municipalities responsible for providing refugee reception locations, by force if necessary.

Nuenen makes land available at Pastoorsmast

Late last year the Nuenen City Council spoke out against Gulbergen as a location for the reception of asylum seekers. The municipality itself then took the initiative and looked into whether there were locations in our municipality that would be suitable for the reception of refugees.

Based on that study, it was decided to make a vacant site between the Pastoorsmast and the A270 available for the reception of up to 200 asylum seekers by COA. This for a period of up to 10 years in total, with an explicit moment after 5 years to determine whether the reception will be maintained or not. 

Positive experiences with refugee reception in Nuenen

By offering this location for reception by COA, we can contribute to the solution of this humanitarian crisis. Nuenen has the space to cooperate in the reception and previous experiences with refugee reception in Nuenen have been positive. Many Nuenen residents have volunteered and continue to do so. Together, we are also striving to provide humane reception for the future residents of COA's reception site at the Pastoorsmast.

Follow-up steps

COA will continue to technically develop the plans for the site. The municipality will enter into a management agreement with COA for the realization of the reception location. This will contain working agreements on, for example, the construction and layout of the location, the reception and guidance of the asylum seekers, necessary adjustments to the infrastructure, the realization of facilities (such as education, health care and activity programs) and the liveability and safety at and around the reception location.

We look forward to hearing from you

We want to communicate openly and transparently with all residents about the arrival of the asylum seekers' center. The decision to accommodate refugees at the Pastoorsmast may raise questions for you. We are happy to answer them.

Directly adjacent residents and other directly interested parties have been invited to a private walk-in evening and to participate in a sounding board group. These include residents of the Boschhoeve neighborhood, Kremersbos and the homes directly adjacent to the route to the Kernkwartier. In addition, soccer club RKSV, scouting Panta Rhei, Near Home Home Latesteyn and entrepreneurs from the area. We will start by talking with them about what they consider important in the realization of the COA reception location at the Pastoorsmast, so that we can take that into account in the further development of the plans.

We hope to organize a meeting for all Nuenen residents still in June. Then we will be able to tell more about the filling of the location. In the meantime, we will keep you informed of developments on our website, the door-to-door newspapers and the municipality's social media channels.

Learn more

You will always find the latest information on refugee reception here. You can also find frequently asked questions and their answers here. This page is continuously updated with new information as it becomes available.

Information about COA's activities and life at a reception site can be found at www.coa.nl.

Want to start a well-informed conversation about asylum reception or asylum seekers? Then take a look at www.coa.nl/nl/watiswaar

Do you have questions for the municipality and your question is not listed in the frequently asked questions? Then ask it by e-mail: opvanglocatiecoa@nuenen.nl.

Why don't refugees just stay in their own countries?

The situation in the countries from which asylum seekers come is very dangerous. They are fleeing war and violence, or persecution and oppression based on race, political opinion, sexual orientation, religion, or membership in a particular social group. Asylum seekers seek protection in our country under the United Nations Refugee Convention.

What is COA?

The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) is responsible for providing shelter and support to asylum seekers in the Netherlands during the asylum procedure. This means that the COA provides housing from the moment an asylum seeker applies for asylum in the Netherlands until the moment the asylum seeker must leave the country or is granted a residence permit. See also:www.coa.nl(external link).

Refugees, asylum seekers, recognized refugees, asylum centers—what’s the difference?

Refugees are people who, due to war or other reasons, fear for their lives and apply for asylum in our country. Refugees who apply for asylum are called asylum seekers. While their asylum applications are being processed, they are housed in a reception center run by the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers), known as an asylum seekers’ center (AZC). Once they are granted residence status in the Netherlands, they are referred to as status holders. From that moment on, they are also entitled to housing in the Netherlands. The influx of asylum seekers is currently very high, and the transition of status holders from the AZCs to housing is low due to a shortage in the housing market. As a result, status holders often have to stay in an AZC longer. And that, in turn, means there is less space in an AZC for new asylum seekers, while the number of refugees seeking a home here is not decreasing.

What do asylum seekers do all day?

Asylum seekers live independently in an asylum seekers’ center. They manage their households, take their children to school, and attend meetings with organizations such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, the Repatriation and Departure Service, and the Dutch Council for Refugees. All residents must comply with a weekly reporting requirement but otherwise go about their daily lives. In addition, they prepare for their future through programs or volunteer work at the facility. However, their lives largely take place within the reception center, as opportunities for adults to work or pursue studies are limited. The COA offers activities at the facility. There are also volunteers ready to assist the asylum seekers, just as there were volunteers active a few years ago at the emergency shelter in the courtyard of the town hall. More information about life at a reception center can be found athttps://www.coa.nl/dagelijkse-activiteiten(external link).

Are there any examples of places where an asylum seeker center is functioning well?

According to COA data from March 2026, there are 323 reception centers in the Netherlands. Two of these are registration centers: Ter Apel and Budel. There are also 109 regular asylum seeker centers, such as the one being established in Nuenen. The remaining locations are emergency shelters. 
We are all familiar with the negative stories from Budel and Ter Apel because we read them in the newspaper or see them on the news or social media. This paints a distorted picture of reality. Budel and Ter Apel are not “regular” asylum seeker centers, but large registration centers. They house 1,500 (Budel) to 2,000 (Ter Apel) asylum seekers. Things were peaceful in Budel until it became a registration center. After that, the disturbances increased. We hear nothing about the other locations in the media. Things are generally going well there, but good news isn’t news. We aren’t naive, but we do want to paint a realistic picture and not let ourselves be guided by the exceptions. See also this study: Incidents and Crimes Committed by Residents of COA and TGO Locations 2017–2024

What are the costs of an asylum seekers' center, and who pays for them?

The total costs of building and operating the COA’s reception center depend on many factors, so it is not possible to make a general statement about them. The COA receives funding for this from the rijksoverheid. Municipalities hosting asylum seekers are entitled to various financial reimbursements for costs incurred. The funds come from the budgets of the Ministries of Justice and Security and Foreign Affairs. If the municipality chooses to undertake additional activities related to quality of life and safety, the costs of these activities are borne by the municipality. The municipality of Nuenen can cover these costs from its general reserve for refugee reception.

How does the arrival of an asylum seekers' center affect property values?

It is difficult to give a precise answer to that question. The housing market is constantly changing, and that also plays a role in the development of home prices. The University of Groningen (RUG) did conduct research on this topic in 2019 and concluded the following: “The opening of large asylum seeker centers in sparsely populated areas leads to a significant drop in home prices. The selling price of a home can drop by as much as nine percent. This applies to asylum seeker centers that house five hundred or more asylum seekers. No noticeable drop in sales prices has been observed for centers in cities or for centers accommodating fewer than 500 asylum seekers.” In Nuenen, a maximum of 159 asylum seekers are accommodated. 

If the issuance of the environmental permit for the temporary asylum seekers’ center results in financial loss due to a decrease in the value of homes or real estate, a request for compensation for planning-related losses may be submitted.

My question is not listed here; where can I ask it?

You can submit your question to the municipality by sending an e-mail to opvanglocatiecoa@nuenen.nl.

Why do we need to host refugees in Nuenen?

There is a humanitarian refugee crisis in the Netherlands. The refugee reception system has ground to a halt, and this has been leading to dire situations for some time now. The registration centers in Budel and Ter Apel are often overcrowded, and refugees are being forced to stay in one temporary (crisis) emergency shelter after another. 

Municipalities must ensure adequate accommodation for asylum seekers. This is stipulated in the Act on Municipal Responsibilities for Asylum Accommodation Facilities, better known as the Distribution Act. This law is intended to ensure sufficient accommodation and a more equitable distribution of asylum seekers across provinces and municipalities.

With the COA reception center on Pastoorsmast, Nuenen complies with the Distribution Act. For the capacity estimate, provincial reception targets, and indicative allocation per municipality for 2026, see: stcrt-2026-8582.pdf

How many asylum seekers are coming to Nuenen?

The asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast will accommodate up to 159 residents. This number is specified in the administrative agreement that the municipality has entered into with the COA, as well as in the permit that the municipality has issued to the COA.

How many refugees is Nuenen now hosting?

Nuenen is providing shelter for approximately 115 Ukrainians at the Vrouwkensakker. This shelter will remain in operation, and the residents will not be moving to the new asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast. In addition, we have a target for the first half of 2026 to house 20 status holders:Overview of housing for permit holders as of April 1, 2026. This reception and housing is separate from the obligation we have in the Netherlands to provide asylum seekers with safe shelter.

Will there be more asylum seekers in Nuenen after this location?

We have agreed with the COA that Nuenen will have one reception center, located on Pastoorsmast, where the COA can accommodate up to 159 refugees for a maximum of 10 years. This is set out in the administrative agreement concluded between the municipality and the COA. Of course, we cannot anticipate any future national decisions, such as if we were to be assigned a different reception quota in the future based on the Distribution Act. 

Will there be a shelter on Gulbergen in addition to the Pastoorsmast location?

No. The municipality believes that there is room for one COA reception center in Nuenen. This agreement has also been reached with the COA. We also do not believe that the development of an asylum seekers’ center at Gulbergen fits within the intended spatial development plan for the Gulbergen Estate. You can read a detailed explanation of this in the 2023 council information letter athttps://nuenen.raadsinformatie.nl/modules/8/Raadsinformatiebrieven/840303(external link). In addition, council members in particular have expressed their view that accommodating 500 people at a single location is excessive and that the location is, moreover, too far from amenities. The municipal council has therefore informed the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region that it will not cooperate with the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region’s request in principle to establish an asylum seekers’ center on the Gulbergen Estate.

How does the municipality view the distribution of asylum seekers to be accommodated within the MRE area and Nuenen in particular?

Nuenen is part of the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region (MRE) and believes that every municipality in the MRE has a responsibility to contribute to the reception of asylum seekers so that this humanitarian crisis can be addressed collectively.

Spreading out across Nuenen is difficult because, with multiple smaller reception sites, each location requires staff for reception and support, security, daytime activities, and so on. Staff are hard to find throughout the Netherlands. Moreover, smaller locations are proportionally much more expensive. Opting for (multiple) smaller locations therefore means that the municipality would have to take on the organization and costs of such a location. The COA does not receive approval or funding for this from the minister.

When will the first asylum seekers come to Nuenen?

The COA expects to be able to accommodate the first refugees in Nuenen in the summer of 2026 at the earliest. This depends on any legal proceedings initiated by opponents of the asylum seekers’ center. The COA began work on the site after the permit was granted in September 2025. Pending the granting of a final permit, the COA will continue with the construction at its own risk during the legal proceedings. 

What kind of asylum seekers are coming to Nuenen?

Some of the people coming to the asylum seekers’ center in Nuenen will be recognized asylum seekers. Due to a shortage of available housing, recognized asylum seekers who are entitled to regular housing but have not yet been assigned a home because of the shortage are forced to live in the asylum seekers’ centers. In Nuenen, the COA is attempting to accommodate recognized asylum seekers who have a good chance of settling in this region. 

Another group coming to Nuenen consists of asylum seekers with a good chance of success who have been assigned to our region. This means they are expected to receive a residence permit, after which they will be housed in our region and build a new life here. 

The exact composition of the remaining residents is not yet known. The COA is working to achieve a balanced composition of residents. This will reflect all refugees who have applied for asylum in the Netherlands. They must await the outcome of the assessment procedure in an asylum seekers’ center. They are people of various ages and nationalities, including families, single adults, and children. See also: COA - People in COA accommodation | www.coa.nl. In the administrative agreement, the COA and the municipality have agreed that no unaccompanied minor asylum seekers will be accommodated in Nuenen.

Can we choose not to allow "asylum seekers" and single men into Nuenen?

No, we cannot choose what kind of asylum seekers we receive. Imposing restrictions based on a specific target group would create an unjust distinction among the people the COA accommodates. Such selection constitutes discrimination and is not permitted by law. The COA ensures a balanced distribution of asylum seekers across the various locations in our country. Most people living in a COA refugee reception center are here because they have fled war, violence, or persecution. They come here for their own safety. They are not out to cause unrest or nuisance. Asylum seekers from so-called safe countries are known to cause disturbances more often. Not every person from a safe country is a troublemaker, but those who do cause disturbances often belong to that group. During the hearings of the Appeals Committee, the COA indicated that of the 159 asylum seekers coming to Nuenen, 2 to 3 may belong to that group. The staff at the asylum seekers’ center know how to handle this.

Will all residents of the asylum seekers' center in Nuenen eventually be provided with housing?

Only asylum seekers who are granted a residence permit following the asylum procedure—and thus become status holders—are entitled to housing in the Netherlands. They are distributed throughout the country and will therefore not necessarily end up living in Nuenen. Some of the residents of the asylum seekers’ center in Nuenen will be assigned to our region. Once they have completed the procedure and received a residence permit, they will live somewhere in our region and build a new life. 

What are the chances that the asylum seekers' center in Nuenen will remain in operation for more than 10 years?

The asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast will remain in operation for a maximum of 10 years. This provision is included in the administrative agreement, the lease agreement, and the permit issued by the municipality to the COA. There is therefore no basis for continued use beyond those 10 years. A period longer than 10 years is not legally considered temporary, and an amendment to the zoning plan would be required. Once the temporary asylum center is demolished, the site will be converted into a nature area. This is also stipulated in the agreement with the COA and in the environmental permit.

What does the municipality of Nuenen do, and what does the COA do? How are the responsibilities divided?

The COA is responsible for the reception and support of asylum seekers and also oversees the construction and furnishing of the facility. The municipality coordinates any necessary adjustments to the surrounding area (such as infrastructure). The COA and the municipality make agreements regarding matters such as education for children at the reception center, healthcare, and activity programs. They also make agreements regarding the quality of life and safety around the reception center and how these are monitored. All agreements are laid out in the administrative agreement between the municipality and the COA. The administrative agreement also includes a security plan. Under the Municipalities Act, the mayor is responsible for public order and safety in the municipality. Maintaining safety within the reception center falls under the responsibility of the COA. The COA provides security, supervision, and activities at the site. 

Why did the municipality choose the location on Pastoorsmast?

In December 2022, the Nuenen City Council adopted a motion stating that the council does not consider the Gulbergen site suitable for accommodating 500 people. The council also rejected the preliminary request submitted by the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region (MRE). The council subsequently requested that the municipal executive launch a study into alternative accommodation sites. Based on that investigation, the municipal executive selected the plot on Pastoorsmast, which is currently zoned as an “event site.”

An official feasibility study conducted for this purpose identified six potentially suitable locations. These are Boschhoeve, Collse Hoeve, Gerwen Zuid-Oost, Oude Landen (= Pastoorsmast), De Pinckart 24, and Wettenseind. Both the COA and the municipality have assessed these locations for suitability. The assessment considered environmental factors, land issues, mobility and traffic, environmental law, public order and safety, social aspects, and housing. This includes, for example, access to the location, the surrounding area, distances to amenities, and more. The COA has also conducted a document review and on-site inspection of the aforementioned locations. These two documents form the basis for the deliberations and decision-making by the Municipal Executive.

The Pastoorsmast site scores fairly well to well in all areas. Areas of concern include environmental issues (noise pollution from the A270) and the installation of utility infrastructure.
The main reasons for choosing this site are:

• Relevant amenities are within reasonable distance and there is ample opportunity for recreation and sports in the immediate vicinity.
• The site is a reasonable distance from existing residences.
• The site is owned by the municipality. This gives the municipality control over the development of the site.
• The site is not suitable for regular residential development because it may only be used on a temporary basis.
• The drawbacks (noise pollution from the A270 and the lack of utilities) are relatively easy to address.

How was the decision regarding the asylum seekers' center made?

In April 2023, the municipal executive made a decision regarding the location for the asylum seekers’ center. The Alderman then Alderman the municipal council (as the democratically elected representative body of the residents of Nuenen) of the decision to make the Pastoorsmast site available to accommodate up to 200 refugees for a maximum of 10 years. 

Immediately afterward, a process was launched to inform local residents and involve them in determining what is needed to establish adequate refugee housing on Pastoorsmast. To this end, the Refugee Housing Advisory Group was established in May 2023. 

On March 27, 2024, the city council adopted revised guidelines for the development, construction, and operation of the Pastoorsmast asylum seekers’ center. The center on Pastoorsmast will provide housing for 159 asylum seekers for a period of five years, with the intention of extending the agreement to 10 years. An annual evaluation will be conducted. 

The agreements reached have been set forth in an administrative agreement concluded between the municipal executive and the COA. A security plan is attached to the administrative agreement. 

The municipality has granted an environmental permit. Objections were filed against this decision. These were reviewed by the independent appeals committee. The municipal executive has issued a decision on the objections: Nuenen Municipal Executive’s Decision on Objections to the Asylum Seekers’ Center | Municipality of Nuenen.

Why didn’t the municipality ask residents in advance for their opinion on the establishment of an asylum seekers’ center?

The municipality wants to help address a humanitarian issue. The Distribution Act also requires municipalities to do so. The municipal executive has therefore made a decision regarding the establishment of an asylum seekers’ center and its location. We did not want to raise false expectations about residents’ influence on the establishment of the center if there is no realistic basis for us to meet those expectations. We have chosen to focus our attention on how, following the decision that has been made, we can work together with neighborhood representatives to create a livable environment at and around the planned reception center on Pastoorsmast.

Who was involved in developing the plan?

The COA was, of course, involved in developing the plan to establish an asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast, as were many different departments within the municipality. In addition, residents, local organizations, associations, and business owners, as well as the security region and the police, contributed their input on various aspects of the plan. 

Following the municipal executive’s decision on the location, we first sent an informational letter to the immediate neighbors of the Pastoorsmast and invited them to an initial private open house on May 10, 2023. This included residents of the Boschhoeve and Kremersbos neighborhoods, as well as those living on the other side of Smits van Oyenlaan who are directly adjacent to the walking route to the Kernkwartier. In addition, the RKSV Nuenen soccer club, the Panta Rhei Scouting group, St. Annagilde Nuenen-Dorp, Bijna Thuis Huis Latesteyn, and local business owners were invited. Those in attendance shared valuable information, concerns, and suggestions with us.

To ensure the involvement and perspectives of immediate neighbors and other stakeholders throughout the entire process, the Refugee Reception Focus Group was established. Representatives from the various stakeholder groups contributed their ideas and discussed topics relevant to the neighborhood, such as quality of life, accessibility, urban design, and amenities. The advisory group met nine times during the 2023–2024 period. The group’s ideas were incorporated into the drafting of the administrative agreement with the COA. In addition, eight spatial projects proposed by the sounding board group in the areas of (traffic) safety and quality of life in the vicinity of the asylum seekers’ center were set as preconditions for the center’s establishment. Those projects have since been completed.

On Monday, July 3, 2023, a residents’ meeting was held at the Hongerman. All residents of the municipality of Nuenen were invited to attend. Approximately 400 people were present. They received an explanation of the plans and had the opportunity to ask questions of the municipal council and the COA. The evening gave the municipality a good sense of residents’ concerns regarding the reception center at Pastoorsmast.

Why doesn’t the COA wait to start construction until a final decision on the permit has been made? 

During the objection period, the COA is carrying out work on the site at Pastoorsmast at its own risk. The COA is permitted to do so because filing an objection to a decision does not have suspensive effect. This means that the decision to grant the permits remains in force and can be implemented, even if an objection or appeal has been filed. 

What security measures will be implemented at the asylum seekers' center?

As part of the administrative agreement with the COA, the municipality has drawn up a safety plan in collaboration with the COA, the police, and other partners. This safety plan is a comprehensive set of tools, measures, and agreements designed to ensure that quality of life and safety in and around the asylum seekers’ center are safeguarded as effectively as possible. The measures and agreements are intended to limit and, where possible, prevent undesirable behavior. The safety plan also includes working agreements between the various partners, organized within a consultation framework.

Here are a few key points:

• The COA ensures that security is on duty 24/7.
• The reception center can be reached by phone 24 hours a day by immediate neighbors, residents, and emergency services. The phone number will be posted on the COA and municipal websites when the center opens. We will also include the phone number in the municipal announcements in the weekly newspaper *Rond de Linde*.
• The COA monitors compliance with the house rules at the facility and informs residents about rules of conduct and social etiquette in the Netherlands.
• Two months prior to the authorized use, the COA, in collaboration with the municipality, will initiate a so-called neighborhood consultation. From the moment the temporary asylum seekers’ center becomes operational, the COA must organize follow-up meetings for the neighborhood consultation. The format and frequency of the consultation will be agreed upon by the participants.
• A safety meeting is held every two weeks between the police, the municipality, the COA, and any other relevant partners. During these meetings, all matters occurring both inside and outside the asylum seekers’ center are discussed. Anyone can report incidents to the police, the municipality, or the COA, and these reports are handled with care. 

The mayor is responsible at all times for public order and safety in the municipality. 

What is the municipality doing to combat shoplifting by asylum seekers?

We are in discussions with business owners in Nuenen regarding the arrival of the asylum seekers’ center. We advise business owners to file a police report in the event of theft. Reports will be handled as usual. It makes no difference whether the suspect is an asylum seeker or another resident or visitor to our municipality. There are many misconceptions about asylum seekers. The fact is that in most municipalities where there is a reception center operated by the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers), the number of shoplifting incidents and other offenses and crimes has not increased. See alsoCOA - Is it true that an asylum seeker center always causes nuisance? | www.coa.nl 

What is the municipality doing about possible nuisance from asylum seekers?

The municipality and the COA are making arrangements regarding the quality of life and safety around the reception center and how these are monitored. Just as with disturbances caused by other people, appropriate measures will be taken. Disturbances can occur when people find themselves in a hopeless situation or are bored. The COA offers a daily program at the site. This allows residents to participate in activities in addition to their household and care responsibilities. Volunteers can also play a role in this.

Can we send asylum seekers who cause disturbances to another location?

The Netherlands aims to provide safety to people fleeing war or violence. A small group abuses this system and causes disturbances or commits crimes. At the asylum seekers’ center, the COA implements a policy of measures. If criminal offenses occur, they are always reported to the police. Staff will always attempt to guide the asylum seeker’s behavior. If the behavior has a significant impact, an asylum seeker may also be transferred to another location with increased supervision. See also: COA - Reception in different types of asylum seeker centers | www.coa.nl COA staff are trained to recognize signs, including those of trauma, and to respond appropriately.

Do asylum seekers use Health care Health educational services in Nuenen?

Children living at the asylum seekers' center attend local schools in the region. Students in grades 1 and 2 (preschoolers) attend elementary school in Nuenen right away. Students in grades 3 through 8 attend language classes in Geldrop. This lasts about a year. After that, the children return to Nuenen for regular education. Students in secondary education attend schools in Eindhoven or Helmond. 

The COA organizes healthcare at the asylum seekers’ center or at another asylum seekers’ center location in the area. For primary care, asylum seekers go toGezondheidszorg Asielzoekers (GZA), a national primary care practice operated byArts en Health. There is a center in or near every asylum seekers’ center. There, a general practitioner works alongside a practice nurse, a mental health care assistant, and a practice assistant. They are all sensitive to language and cultural differences. If necessary, the general practitioner refers patients to other healthcare providers, such as a medical specialist.

How can the residents of Nuenen help make the asylum seekers' center a success?

It is very important for asylum seekers to have something to do during the day. This is taken care of, but it would, of course, be great if local residents could play a role in this. For example, by organizing activities where residents and asylum seekers can meet and learn about each other’s cultures.

I want to become a volunteer at the asylum seeker center soon. Where can I apply?

You can become a volunteer in different ways: at COA itself, at one of its partners or at local initiatives. COA's website has more information on volunteering.

Do you need stuff for the refugees?

You can find out what items you can donate on the COA website: .

Which is true?

Reception and guidance during the asylum procedure