South Holland takes action as four municipalities fail to house refugees for three years
Four municipalities in South Holland risk losing control over refugee housing if they don’t meet deadlines by April 2027. Delays force the province to step in, ensuring status holders get the housing they’re legally entitled to—before shortages worsen.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipalities at risk | Krimpenerwaard, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Voorne aan Zee, Zwijndrecht |
| Deadline | April 1, 2027 |
| Current status | Step 5 of Intergovernmental Supervision (province takeover if unresolved) |
| Municipalities improving | Albrandswaard, Hoeksche Waard, Molenlanden, Pijnacker-Nootdorp |
| Legal obligation | Municipalities must house status holders; province monitors compliance |
| Impact of delays | Overcrowded reception centers, prolonged uncertainty for refugees |
The Province of South Holland oversees municipal compliance with national refugee housing policies. If municipalities fail to meet their legal obligations, the province has the authority to intervene and take over housing responsibilities to ensure status holders are accommodated.
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Read the full translated article below
Municipalities struggling with reception of status holders, Province to monitor compliance
Several municipalities in South Holland are facing significant delays in the reception of status holders. The province has a statutory duty to monitor compliance. Four municipalities have until April 1, 2027, to address these delays; otherwise, the province will take over their housing responsibilities for status holders.
The reception of status holders (refugees with a residence permit) is a statutory duty assigned to municipalities by the central government. Provinces are required to ensure that municipalities accommodate enough status holders. Four municipalities have now been notified that their delays are so severe that the Province of South Holland feels compelled to take over the task next year if targets are still not met.
In Krimpenerwaard, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Voorne aan Zee, and Zwijndrecht, the statutory duty to provide reception has not been met for three years. South Holland has held multiple intensive discussions with these municipalities, reviewed their improvement plans, and requested concrete measures to meet the targets in the short term. However, these municipalities still lack realistic plans to address the delays. The province has therefore announced it will intervene as of April 1, 2027, if the delays persist. This means they will be placed under Step 5 of Intergovernmental Supervision. Meanwhile, South Holland will continue engaging with these municipalities and provide support where possible.
Intervention
The province prefers not to intervene. Municipalities are responsible for providing housing for status holders. If they fail to do so, it is up to the province to monitor compliance. These status holders have a legal right to housing; otherwise, they unnecessarily occupy spaces in reception centers, leading to a greater need for additional centers. To break this cycle of shortages, the province has a statutory duty to monitor municipalities and, if necessary, intervene.
Given that elections have just taken place and new municipal administrations will soon be in place, South Holland has set a clear deadline. The actual takeover of tasks will only occur next year and only if the delays remain unresolved. This gives the new municipal administration an opportunity to find solutions.
Improvement plans
Four other municipalities—Albrandswaard, Hoeksche Waard, Molenlanden, and Pijnacker-Nootdorp—remain at Step 4. These four municipalities have recently submitted improvement plans and, in administrative discussions, have demonstrated that they will meet the targets this year. The province has confidence in their plans. However, strict monitoring of these municipalities will continue.