Residents of Haaksbergen, Netherlands, will participate in a unique referendum on March 18, 2026, alongside their regular municipal elections, to weigh in on criteria for potential asylum seeker housing locations. The vote comes as the town prepares to accommodate at least 129 asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors, and reflects a growing debate over how best to integrate newcomers into the community.
The referendum will present voters with four questions formulated by an independent committee appointed by the municipal council, according to the Haaksbergen municipality website. Voters will mark their choices with a red pencil, with one answer permitted per question.
One key question focuses on whether the asylum seekers should be housed in a single location or spread across multiple sites. The debate centers on cost and security responsibilities. If housed in one location, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) would cover the costs of on-site supervision and security, while the municipality would remain responsible for public safety. Distributing the asylum seekers across multiple locations would shift more of the security burden to the local government, particularly for adult asylum seekers, as COA-provided security is primarily focused on facilities housing unaccompanied minors. This information is detailed in the referendum questions document.
The unusual move of holding a referendum on this issue has garnered attention. de Volkskrant reports that Haaksbergen is believed to be the first municipality in the Netherlands to seek direct public input on asylum seeker housing through a referendum.
Local political group TeamDAP has called for “clear questions and honest choices” in the referendum, according to Haaksbergen in Beeld.
On March 18, residents will receive two voting passes – one for the municipal elections and one for the asylum seeker housing referendum, as reported by NU.nl. The outcome of the referendum is expected to significantly influence the municipality’s approach to accommodating asylum seekers.
