Frequently Asked Questions: Nuenen Asylum Seekers' Center

We have heard the concerns of those who filed objections and have carefully considered them. The decision to establish an asylum seekers’ center does not stand alone. As a municipality, we have a legal responsibility and obligation to contribute to the reception of refugees. This task is distributed nationwide, and every municipality must do its part—including those that are not currently doing so. We have chosen to take the lead ourselves. The decision-making process is now behind us. Together with the COA, local residents, and the police, we are now focusing on organizing the reception carefully and safely. 

The group in Nuenen is similar to what we see throughout the Netherlands. The COA strives to compose the resident group as balanced as possible—including families, single men and women, of various ages and backgrounds. 
This asylum seekers’ center is not a place where new groups are constantly coming and going. People generally stay here for an extended period, often throughout their asylum proceedings; children may even complete their entire elementary school education here. Most residents are eager to participate in the local community and want to build their lives here step by step in safety. 

Safety is a fundamental requirement for both residents living near the asylum seekers’ center and for the center’s residents. Ahead of the center’s opening, the municipality, the COA, and the police are working closely together in accordance with a safety plan for the site and its surroundings. There is 24/7 surveillance and security at the site, and house rules apply to the residents. We have quick response channels for incidents, and reports are addressed promptly. In cases of public disorder or serious incidents, the police intervene. 

Residents of the asylum seekers’ center have the same rights and obligations as everyone else in the Netherlands, including freedom of movement. School-age children attend schools in the surrounding area. Asylum seekers with a good chance of being granted a residence permit are allowed to work after three months. For those who are not yet permitted to work, the COA organizes daytime activities at and around the facility. These include volunteer work, language classes, and other activities; they are also engaged in their asylum proceedings and receive guidance throughout the process. And, of course, they do their grocery shopping at the stores in the village.

Do you have a question or would you like Report? You can do so by calling 06 27 59 23 64 or by emailing fmznuenen@coa.nl. The AZC is available 24 hours a day.

The COA is organizing an Open Asylum Seekers’ Center Day on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in conjunction with Neighbors’ Day. You are warmly invited to come take a look around the Asylum Seekers’ Center on that day. More information will be available on this page and in *Rond de Linde* closer to the event.

The asylum seekers' center is where people live. Therefore, you are not allowed to enter the premises at other times without permission. You must always check in with security if you have an appointment or are volunteering at the asylum seekers' center.

The municipality has invited local residents to the first residents’ consultation meeting in July. The residents’ consultation meeting is one of the agreements the municipality has made with the COA regarding the asylum seekers’ center. It is intended to maintain dialogue, share experiences, and foster mutual relations throughout the years the center is in operation. The meeting ensures open lines of communication between local residents, residents of the accommodations, businesses surrounding the AZC, the COA, the police, and the municipality. During the meeting, the site manager—and, if necessary, representatives from the municipality and the police—can provide clarification on any incidents. Ideas from the local community are welcome. 

For the first neighborhood consultation meeting, we invited residents from nearly 200 addresses in the immediate vicinity of the asylum seekers’ center. This includes the Boschhoeve neighborhood, the Kremersbos trailer park, community organizations, businesses, the hospice, residents living along the walking routes, and shop owners in the Kernkwartier. In other words, it concerns the immediate surrounding area. After the asylum seekers’ center opens, the COA will take over the organization of the neighborhood consultation meetings from the municipality. These meetings will be held as often as necessary and as desired by the participants.

We’re keeping all residents informed through this webpage and other channels. The COA will begin publishing a newsletter after the opening. And on September 26, there will be an open house at the asylum seekers’ center, where you’re welcome to come and see what daily life is like there. 

Municipalities receive compensation per asylum seeker to cover the costs they incur, such as for local services and additional staff. This compensation is provided through national programs and is intended to cover costs, not to generate a profit. 

It’s true that there are slightly more beds than there are residents. The COA does this intentionally so it can be flexible with room assignments. Take a family, for example: if there are six beds in a room and the family has five members, one bed remains empty. So extra beds do not mean extra spots. We have agreed on a maximum of 159 residents, and the COA must adhere to that limit.

The asylum seekers’ center on Pastoorsmast will remain in operation for a maximum of 10 years. This provision is included in the management agreement, the lease agreement, and the permit issued by the municipality to the COA. Therefore, there is no possibility of continued use after those 10 years.

Would you like to volunteer to help people at the AZC? Check Requirements COA website for opportunities and Requirements : https://www.coa.nl/nl/vrijwilligerswerk. Please note that volunteers will not be needed immediately after the AZC opens. After arriving, residents first need to get used to their new living environment, and the COA team wants to get to know them and begin providing support. Volunteers are expected to be needed starting in October. 

You can already sign up to be a volunteer. To do so, send an email to fmznuenen@coa.nl. The staff at the Meedoenbalie at the AZC will then contact you starting in early September.