The Hague, Netherlands – By Nour Eddine Amrani

The asylum and immigration issue in the Netherlands has witnessed new developments in recent hours and days. Sharon Dijksma, president of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and mayor of Utrecht, believes that the ongoing debate on asylum and immigration is increasingly going off track. In a social media post following the recent nights of vandalism targeting the municipal building and a nearby theater in the town of IJsselstein, as well as the firing of fireworks at police officers, Dijksma stated: "Some do not hesitate to use violence to impose a political stance."

Dijksma believes that a firm red line must be drawn against this type of violence. In addition to her role as president of the VNG, she also serves as mayor of Utrecht. According to her, there is a "reasonable middle ground" between the "let everyone come here" approach and the "close the borders" approach. The head of the Association of Municipalities adds that there is a "silent majority" in the Netherlands that wants to see positive action through different national or European policies. She hopes that the European Pact on Migration will "unite all parties, from left to right, who genuinely want to solve these problems."

The town of Loosdrecht also experienced vandalism last week due to discontent with asylum seeker reception centers. The acting mayor of Weidemeren (the municipality to which Loosdrecht belongs), Mark Verheijen, believes the discontent stems in part from inadequate government policies. "I really can't separate this from what's happening in The Hague, or rather, what's not happening there," Verheijen says on the television program "Bautenhof."

According to Dijksma, the resentment surrounding asylum and the pressure of receiving asylum seekers in the Netherlands can be addressed through "much faster procedures, a more effective return policy, stricter measures for criminal foreigners who cause serious trouble, and much better integration for those who are allowed to stay." The Association of Municipalities (VNG) is seeking to implement a "distribution law" to fairly distribute the reception of asylum seekers across the country, "taking into account the community's capacity to the fullest extent possible." "Municipalities cannot shirk this responsibility," says Dijksma. "Only in this way can we keep reception within everyone's capacity."

However, she emphasizes that there must always be an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns when an asylum seeker reception center or emergency reception is established in their area. This is where officials and municipalities have a role to play, as they must communicate effectively and demonstrate understanding and empathy. But "violence, aggression, and intimidation must be met with firm resistance; they are unbecoming of a democratic state governed by the rule of law."

In Loosdrecht, windows of the town hall were smashed on Tuesday night. Hundreds of people had previously protested for several consecutive evenings against the temporary reception of 110 asylum seekers in the partially vacant town hall. In Isselstein, too, unrest erupted after it became known that the municipality intended to take in 100 to 150 asylum seekers. “The debate in several places in the Netherlands is completely out of control now,” says Verhey Jeen. “What happened this morning in Isselsteen was appalling. We, as officials, have to draw a line there.” He added that “three different governments” over the past few years “have really done nothing” on the issue.

The acting mayor says he is receiving support from The Hague, “but the best support I can get is not phone calls, but for The Hague to finally do something about it. I think it’s something we can do, but The Hague isn’t helping at the moment.”

An investigation is underway into last night’s violence in Isselsteen, and no arrests have yet been made.

The man who smashed windows at the town hall in Loosdrecht this week was given a six-week suspended sentence in a speedy trial.

In Isselsteen, in the province of Utrecht, police were attacked with heavy fireworks last night, injuring one officer. Rioters vandalized a building housing the town hall and theater yesterday, throwing bricks at the glass facade, hanging an upside-down Dutch flag, and plastering it with stickers bearing the word "corruption."

Tensions have been running high in the city for weeks following the decision to open a temporary emergency reception center for asylum seekers. Currently, IJsselstein is not accepting any asylum seekers, but plans are in place to receive between 100 and 150.