Huge fire breaks out at emergency shelter housing asylum seekers in Netherlands

Loosdrecht

A fire has broken out at an emergency shelter in the Netherlands

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Fintan Starkey

By Fintan Starkey


Published: 12/05/2026

- 20:32

Updated: 12/05/2026

- 21:06

There had been protests against the use of the facility in the weeks leading up to the move

A fire has started at an emergency shelter for asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

The first group of migrants to be housed in the building arrived in Loosdrecht today with protestors gathering outside the gates.


Hundreds of anti-migrants protestors were seen outside the disused facility.

The town, which has a population of just over 8,600 has seen multiple protests against the use of the old town hall in recent weeks.

There was no announcement as to when the asylum seekers would arrive, due to the violent nature of the protests in the weeks leading up to today.

The protests saw hundreds of people take to the streets of Loosdrecht, including two MPs, heavy fireworks and stones were thrown at the police, and the riot police were deployed, in April, leading to arrests.

13 neighbours and business owners had lodged an objection against the 110 asylum seekers coming to the waterside town.

A judge ruled that housing the asylum seekers in humane conditions outweighed the interest of the townsfolk.

Loosdrecht

The fire has spread through the bushes outside the old town hall

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The protests in late April did affect some change as the number being housed dropped from 110 to 70.

The current plan will see the asylum seekers housed in the old town hall until November 1, at the latest.

Riot police were called in today to keep control of the angry protestors.

Dutch MP, Gidi Markuszower, attended the protests in April, and said that refugees should "go back to their own country."

Loosdrecht

Authorities have now been able to extinguish the fire

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Social media videos show that officers attempting to extinguish the fire outside the hall today were pelted with objects.

The fire department was blocked by protesters.

Eventually they were able to get through and the fire has now been extinguished.

The Dutch security service, AIVD, have announce that they are investigating the anti-refugee protests.

Minister Van den Brink for Asylum and Migration made the announcement during a debate in the House of Representatives earlier today.

Mr Van de Bink said they would be looking at ""what patterns exist and what lies behind them."

The mayor of Loosdrecht, Mayor Verheijen, has issued an emergency order due to "serious disturbances of public order in front of the town hall in connection with the temporary emergency shelter provided by the COA in Loosdrecht".