The National Ombudsman and the Childrens Ombudsman are sounding the alarm about the humane reception of Ukrainian refugees, including many children. The number of complaints has risen sharply over the past six months. In a letter to Minister Keijzer and all municipalities responsible for this reception, they call for rapid improvement of living conditions. They also warn of a shortage of reception places. Ukrainians arriving now are being turned away, losing contact and thus getting into trouble.
Complaints Are Piling Up
Since mid-2024, the ombudsmen have seen an increase in complaints and signals from Ukrainians about reception locations. Despite earlier calls from the ombudsman, including a letter to municipalities in April 2025 with points of attention for complaint handling, the number of reports continues to rise. This year, more than 110 Ukrainians from 70 municipalities have contacted the ombudsmen.
Lack of privacy, treatment, and insufficient facilities have been issues for some time. In recent months, complaints about forced relocations have also increased. Due to closures of locations, residents are transferred to reception locations with poorer facilities. They have to share rooms with strangers, have less access to sanitation, and no possibilities to cook.
Municipal Employees Are Struggling
The ombudsmen see that employees of municipal reception locations are doing their best but increasingly run into rules and limited execution space. Employees also pass on signals. For example, a reception location has been trying for months to install kitchens to give residents more independence, but this is stuck due to complex regulations. Employees are also concerned about Ukrainian children, who have been living in unsuitable reception for three years, receive too little mental support, and follow education that does not match their level. These children grow up in safety but without perspective.
Repeated Call to Action
In their earlier report on families in crisis emergency reception, the ombudsmen already made clear how important good shelter, privacy, cooking facilities, appropriate education, and daytime activities are. They also pointed to the importance of fewer relocations and professional attention to childrens development. The human and childrens rights assessment framework they developed provides clear standards for quality reception. Because the problems in the Ukrainian reception increasingly resemble those in crisis emergency reception, the ombudsmen explicitly bring this framework to the attention of municipalities. Unlike normal asylum reception managed by the COA, they are responsible for the Ukraine reception.
Van Zutphen and Kalverboer call on municipalities in their letter to take immediate action. To do what is within their possibilities to improve living conditions and actively involve residents in solutions. They also call on Minister Keijzer to ensure sufficient and humane reception and to support municipalities with sufficient resources, clear legislation, and structural agreements.
Intervention Is Necessary
According to the ombudsmen, it is important to act quickly. Without direct measures, the humane reception of 130,000 Ukrainians in the Netherlands will come under further pressure.
