Overview
- The Ministry of Asylum and Migration placed 18 municipalities under 'actief toezicht' on Monday, bringing the national total to 42 and requiring named towns to explain their shortfalls to Minister Bart van den Brink.
- The newly listed municipalities include Houten, Rhenen and Wijk bij Duurstede in Utrecht plus Beek, Beesel, Boekel, Culemborg, Diemen, Eersel, Gulpen-Wittem, Halderberge, Hattem, Heemskerk, Kerkrade, Maasdriel, Staphorst, Uitgeest and Zoeterwoude.
- Under the Spreidingswet each municipality must host a set number of asylum seekers and 'actief toezicht' is the ministry's formal escalation step that obliges local officials to justify capacity and plans.
- If a municipality still fails to meet its reception duty after active supervision the national government can carry out an indeplaatsstelling to arrange reception without local consent, and Rhenen's council will discuss possible locations on 14 September.
- The ministry now publishes the list monthly to raise pressure; that approach has already intensified local political conflict and protests in places such as Houten and Wijk bij Duurstede and could lead to more forced placements or heated council battles.