Locals of the Dutch village, Albergen, are looking to buy a hotel to stop the Dutch cabinet from letting heaps of asylum seekers in.
According to the NOS, the residents are strongly against the cabinet’s decision to bring between 150 to 300 asylum seekers into 27 rooms in the hotel — and are determined to buy the entire building.
Locals seek a solution: protests
It’s said that the hotel was already sold to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). Dozens of locals are peacefully protesting around the hotel.
READ MORE | Netherlands turns to cruise ships to help host asylum seekers
“I don’t know if that is still possible. But if so, there are sufficient financial options among the residents to actually take over the hotel and give it another destination”, spokesperson, Hennie de Haan, tells RTV Oost.
“There was no other way”
According to De Haan, Albergen is not against asylum seekers and has welcomed them to stay in the hotel before.
However, this time, the residents feel strongly opposed because the cabinet failed to ask for permission from their municipality before deciding to bring asylum seekers in.
READ MORE | Hundreds of tents confiscated by police at Dutch asylum seeker centre
“It does not fit that the State Secretary just throws this over the fence,” says alderman, Bekhuis van Tubbergen.
The State Secretary responded to the locals’ frustrations, saying that they had no other choice than to allow the asylum seekers in because the Netherlands is just so full, and there’s nowhere else for them to go.
What do you think about the Albergen residents wanting to buy the hotel? Tell us in the comments below! 👇