Maasdijk, Netherlands: Nour Eddine Amrani

A hotel specifically for migrant workers has finally opened in an industrial area of ​​Maasdijk. The site is intended for approximately 250 migrant workers employed in the greenhouse farming sector. The hotel's opening was not without its challenges, as it was initially incompatible with the policies of the Westland municipality.

With a capacity for 250 guests, the newly opened complex provides accommodation that meets all the standards and guidelines outlined in the 2020 report by Emile Roemer (former leader of the Socialist Party). This report stipulated that all migrant workers in the Netherlands have the right to decent and affordable housing, especially given the humiliation and racial discrimination they face due to the greed of employers and brokers who pressure them to continue working for low wages, threatening them with the loss of their housing once they stop working. The project, named "Homeland," comprises five floors with a total of 123 independent studio apartments, distributed as follows: 36 studios for couples, 83 two-bedroom studios, and four three-bedroom studios. All studios are equipped with a private kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. A shopping center is also included.

In addition, the complex features several shared amenities, including a recreation room, a rooftop gym, and an 80-square-meter supermarket selling products from the residents' countries of origin.

There are also shared laundry facilities, parking for 75 cars, and a bicycle storage area for 130 bicycles. A central lobby with a relaxation area and 24-hour reception is also available.

Located in the Hunderland Industrial Estate, the building is owned by ZPOT Real Estate and will be occupied entirely by employees of various nationalities working for the recruitment company NL Jobs. Rita Kostvinder, director of NL Jobs, said, "The name 'Homeland' was coined by one of our employees, and I'm confident that this unique building will live up to everyone's expectations and achieve the goal behind the name: providing a second home."

According to councillor (expert) Peter Valstar, Homeland represents a significant step towards more professional accommodation for migrant workers in the Westland area. He laid the foundation stone for the building on November 14, 2024.

The creation of this complex required considerable effort and overcoming several obstacles. The story began in 2018 when property developer Westbrick wanted to build a hotel for migrant workers, which was incompatible with the Westland municipality's plans.

Urban Planning (Zone Plan)

To prevent the construction of what was dubbed the "Polish Hotel," the municipality amended the area's zoning plan. However, in the final hours of the old plan's validity, the recruitment company NL Jobs applied for a permit to build a hotel for migrant workers, effectively excluding Westbrick from the project. After several lawsuits and rounds of negotiations, an agreement was finally reached between the municipality and the parties involved, paving the way for both the NL Jobs migrant workers' hotel and a regular hotel operated by Westbrick, located just a few dozen meters apart.

This unique project has at least alleviated the suffering of migrant workers who were often exploited by brokers who provided them with uninhabitable rooms that did not meet temporary accommodation standards. Dozens of seasonal workers were left homeless after being dismissed from their jobs.