The Minister for Asylum and Migration has adopted the capacity estimate for the second cycle of the Distribution Act, which outlines the number of reception places for asylum seekers which are required over the next 2 years. It estimates that 88,000 shelter places must be available by 1 July 2028, including 5,600 places for unaccompanied minors.
The capacity estimate also sets out the indicative distribution across municipalities. In the coming months, provinces will coordinate with municipalities, the central government and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) to allocate the required number of reception places within their province. They must submit their provincial plans to the minister before 1 December 2026, after which the minister will assess the plans and adopt a final decision on distribution.
In the meantime, COA has warned that there is a shortage of available reception places, requiring additional short-term measures to address the issue.
- Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers (27 February, 2026), Capaciteitsraming tweede cyclus Spreidingswet vastgesteld [Capacity estimate second cycle of the Distribution Act adopted],
- Government Gazette of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | Staatscourant van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (27 February, 2026), Capaciteitsraming, provinciale opvangopgave en indicatieve verdeling per gemeente 2026 [Capacity estimate, provincial reception task and indicative distribution per municipality 2026],