Agreements with COA

The agreements made between the municipality and COA

The arrangements for the temporary shelter are set out in a board agreement between the municipality and COA. The main agreements are:

• The emergency shelter was initially limited to one year and that year starts upon the arrival of the first residents. The first residents arrived in February 2022. After the first year, 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. Of these, at least half 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.
• Security is always present at the reception location. COA and the municipality take action in case of nuisance.
• Security is always present at the reception location. COA and the municipality take action 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, COA involves parties from Zoetermeer such as the Dutch Refugee Council and the Piëzo Foundation.
• The municipality of Zoetermeer may terminate the management agreement in the interim if the presence of and nuisance caused by the residents of the reception location demonstrably leads to a disturbance of public order.
• All costs incurred by the municipality because of the emergency shelter, COA pays.

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.