Riot police were called in, and an emergency order was issued after a demonstration against a new asylum shelter in Loosdrecht turned violent on Monday evening.
On the same day the facility received its first residents, around 400 people turned out to oppose the shelter. The new asylum centre is housed in the former Wijdemeren town hall.
As reported by RTL Nieuws, the atmosphere soured around 8:45 PM, when some in the crowd began hurling fireworks and lit flares at the building. Some bushes along the structure quickly caught on fire.
Fire service blocked by protesters
Flares reached the roof and set the surrounding bushes alight, the Gooi en Vechtstreek Safety Region confirmed with RTL Nieuws.
NH Nieuws reports that fire crews attempting to reach the scene were blocked by a section of the crowd before eventually breaking through and dousing the blaze. The Mobiele Eenheid (riot police) then made charges and scattered the crowd.
BREAKING: Brandweer wordt tegengehouden hier in #Loosdrecht en kan niet blussen. Naast de ingang van het gebouw nu een grote boom in de brand. Het is een grote chaos. pic.twitter.com/1Yfi4fH7iw
— Owen (@_owenobrien_) May 12, 2026
Translation: BREAKING: Fire brigade is being held back here in #Loosdrecht and cannot extinguish the fire. Next to the building entrance, a large tree is on fire. It is a major chaos.
A spokesperson for a safety region said it was unclear whether any asylum seekers were inside at the time.
Mayor Mark Verheijen declared a noodbevel (emergency order), citing what he described as “serious disturbances of public order,” requiring all those present to clear the area on police instruction until 9 AM Tuesday. By late Monday, police had made one arrest.
“Downright scandalous”
Prime Minister Rob Jetten was quick to condemn the scenes on X, calling them “downright scandalous.” The response came as anti-asylum protests have turned violent in several Dutch municipalities in recent months.
Prior demonstrations had already grown confrontational, which is partly why the municipality chose not to publish an exact arrival date.
The unrest sits against the backdrop of the Netherlands’ strained asylum reception system, with municipalities under growing pressure to open new facilities.
Although the Dutch government tightened asylum laws in 2025, opposition on the ground shows no sign of easing.
How should municipalities and the government handle the opening of new asylum shelters? Let us know in the comments.
