Dutch churches urged to host asylum-seeker families in vacant parish properties

A broad coalition of Dutch churches, coordinated by the Raad van Kerken, is calling on local parishes to provide temporary, small-scale housing for families of status-holders awaiting permanent placement. The initiative, named ‘Actie Onderdak’, proposes that churches make available a church outbuilding, an empty parsonage or a vacant holiday home for up to three months, freeing space in the already full asylum-seeker centres.

The appeal was drafted with assistance from Stichting INLIA, which supports churches in refugee accommodation, and the working group on refugees of the Raad van Kerken. The Protestantse Kerk in Nederland and the Rooms-Katholieke Kerk have joined the effort, whereas churches not affiliated with the Raad, such as the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken, have declined. Coordination with the Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers and the Ministry of Security and Justice aims to ensure that after three months the families can transition to new housing, signalling a collective societal responsibility.