Asylum seekers can be accommodated on a luxury ferry in Velsen-Noord. The judge ruled that on Monday afternoon. Entrepreneurs from the town of North Holland had initiated summary proceedings against the reception of a thousand asylum seekers on the ship.
Entrepreneurs fear accidents at the factory site near the ship. They think the reception location is unsafe. The municipality of Velsen and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) disagree.
According to the judge, the interest of the AOC to be able to welcome asylum seekers directly on the ship overrides the interests of the entrepreneurs.
The municipality has taken sufficient measures
The companies the ship is in think that asylum seekers cause too much stench and annoying noise. Furthermore, one of the contractors believes that due to the ship’s arrival there is not enough space for the vehicles on the quay.
The judge does not agree with these arguments. The municipality is erecting fences to prevent asylum seekers from entering the company’s premises. According to the judge, sufficient measures have been taken to limit the disturbance to asylum seekers. And despite the fact that a company’s room for maneuver is effectively limited, it can still function normally, the judge ruled.
The reception of asylum seekers is contrary to the urban plan, but the municipality tolerates the situation. The AOC has requested an environmental permit.
According to the judge, the fact that there is still no environmental permit “does not deserve the beauty prize”. But it doesn’t change the judgment.
A sleeping area for asylum seekers on the ferry located on the Velsen-Noord quay.
A sleeping area for asylum seekers on the ferry located on the Velsen-Noord quay. Photo: ANP
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The first asylum seekers arrive by ship on Monday evening
On Monday evening, the first asylum seekers are already sleeping on the ship, which normally sails between Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia). COA has furnished beds for more than a thousand people.
On the normally luxurious ferry, the swimming pool, theater and casino are closed during the stay of asylum seekers. It was decided to create support.
Not only are the entrepreneurs opposed to the arrival of the asylum ship, but the residents of Velsen-Noord also protested: they walked in a protest march in June and smeared the signs pointing the way to the ferry.
Asylum seekers will remain on the ship until March 1 next year.
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