Agreements with COA

The agreements made between the municipality and COA

The agreements on the temporary shelter location are laid down in an administrative agreement between the municipality and the COA. The most important agreements are:

• The emergency shelter was initially limited to one year, and that year starts with the arrival of the first residents. The first residents arrived in February 2022. After the first year, the COA requested an extension. This extension was granted for a period of 2 years, until February 2025. There is room for 630 people in the shelter. At least half of them are status holders (refugees with a residence permit) and the other residents are asylum seekers with a high chance of a residence permit. There will be no unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.
• There is always security present at the reception location. The COA and the municipality take measures in case of nuisance.
• There is always security present at the reception location. The COA and the municipality take measures in case of nuisance.
• Most residents go to work during the day and children go to school. There is also plenty to do at the reception location. Where possible, the COA involves Zoetermeer parties such as Vluchtelingenwerk and Stichting Piëzo.
• The municipality of Zoetermeer can terminate the management agreement prematurely if the presence of and the nuisance caused by the residents of the shelter location demonstrably leads to a disruption of public order.
• The COA pays all costs incurred by the municipality due to emergency shelter.

You can read a detailed explanation in the other topics on these web pages. There you will also find answers to frequently asked questions about counseling, safety or volunteering, for example.