Den Bosch council debates asylum centre while pledging to rebuild Engelen village

At a council meeting in Den Bosch, citizens gathered to oppose a plan to house 50 unaccompanied minor refugees on an industrial plot in the village of Engelen. After heated debate, the council dismissed most motions seeking to halt the project, while endorsing a package to repair the split community, including a higher neighbourhood budget and faster delivery of a new village hall funded partly by the COA. Officials demanded stricter safety protocols, youth and women participation, and a mandatory livability plan covering security and rapid response to incidents.

The COA must meet these conditions before applying for an environmental permit, which can be appealed up to the Council of State. Mayor Jack Mikkers declared the session a decisive step toward certainty for both residents and the asylum seekers.