Article
These are your rights and obligations in COA's reception centre
Last updated: 17/02/2025, 15:31
Share on social media:
In the reception centre of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), you live with others. Every reception location is different, as are the Facilities. You have rights, obligations and house rules. Read more about them on this page.
These are your rights in the reception centre
In any reception centre of the , you are entitled to:
A bed to sleep in
Meals or money to buy your own food
Money for clothing and personal care products
Medical care and reimbursement of medical expenses
Help and guidance
Reimbursement of special expenses, such as travel costs
Education for children under 18 years of age
Filing complaints about fellow residents, the reception centre or COA employees
These are the facilities and activities in the reception centre
Eating in the reception centre: In a temporary reception centre, you usually do not cook for yourself. The COA provides meals. In an asylum seekers' centre (AZC), you often cook for yourself and get money to buy food.
Washing in the reception centre: Each reception centre has a laundry room where you wash and dry your clothes. The laundry room is open at certain times, and this varies by reception centre.
Dutch lessons or volunteer work in the reception centre: At some reception locations, you take Dutch lessons or do volunteer work. Children sometimes participate in sports, games, art and music. Not every reception centre offers the same activities. In the temporary reception centre there are few activities.
These are your obligations in the reception centre
During your stay at the reception centre, you must:
Adhere to Dutch law
Adhere to the reception centre's house rules (you can read these later in this article)
Give COA employees access to your room for inspection
Report to COA at least once a week (COA tells you where and when to do this; this is called the obligation to report)
Follow the instructions of COA employees
Return borrowed items without damage when you leave. If items are missing or broken, COA may deduct an amount from your weekly allowance
Report changes in your financial situation to COA
You must sign a statement
Before your stay in COA's reception centre, you will sign a statement of rights and obligations. With this you promise that you will adhere to the rules of the reception centre.
MyCOA
On COA's website you can find information about your reception centre
There are house rules in the reception centre that you must follow
The COA has house rules for each reception centre. The house rules ensure a pleasant and safe living environment. They deal with housing, (fire) safety and what your responsibilities are.
Are you not following the house rules or obligations? Then COA:
Give you less weekly money
Transfer you to a reception centre with stricter rules (for a serious offense)
Report to the police if you break Dutch law
Below you can read more about the COA rules you must follow:
In the Netherlands, everyone is equal. Discrimination is prohibited. This is stated in Article 1 of the . Even in COA's reception centres, you are not allowed to discriminate against anyone. People from different backgrounds should feel safe and be able to live together.
Aggression or violence against residents or employees of COA will be punished. If you are a victim of aggression, violence or unwanted sexual behaviour, you can report it to the police.
In the reception centre, you may practise your religion and have your political opinions, but others should not be bothered by them.
You must not cause noise pollution. Between 22:00 and 08:00, it must be quiet so that everyone can sleep.
Taking photos, videos or sound recordings of others without permission is prohibited.
Visitors are welcome between 08:00 and 22:00. They must report to the reception desk upon arrival and departure. You pick up your visitors at the reception desk and are responsible for them. You can ask for the rules for visitors at COA's info desk.
Drugs and alcohol are prohibited in the reception centre. You may not have, sell or use drugs or alcohol.
Drunkenness in public is prohibited in the reception centre.
Weapons are prohibited in the reception centre.
Wearing face-covering clothing, such as a nikab or burka, is also prohibited. Even in your own living quarters.
Your living space in the reception centre is only for you and your fellow residents. You may not let other people live in here.
You may not change anything about your living space. You may not bring your own furniture or hang curtains or wall hangings.
Do you break something? Then you have to pay the repair costs yourself.
You must keep your living space clean yourself and leave it clean when you move out. You are not allowed to take items out of the living space.
All residents must keep the common areas and surrounding areas of the reception centre clean.
You may not have pets unless you have written permission from the reception centre management.
You must allow COA employees access to your living space for room checks, maintenance or repairs. COA employees may enter your living space uninvited if there is a threat to safety or public health.
Sometimes you need to move to a different space or a new resident moves in.
You can sometimes temporarily borrow items from COA, such as plates, cutlery, bedding, towels and baby equipment. You must return these items undamaged.
You may not smoke inside the reception centre, including in your own room. Outside, you may only smoke in places where smoking is allowed. There are also ashtrays there.
Cooking is allowed only on the fixed stoves in the reception centre's shared kitchens.
You may not light open fires in the reception centre. So you may not use candles, incense, oil lamps or your own cooking stoves.
If you use your own electrical appliances, you should ask a COA employee if the equipment is safe.
You may not cover fire alarms in the reception centre.
You should not open fire doors. Make sure they can keep folding shut by themselves.
Escape routes in the reception centre must always be clear. For example, make sure no prams or bicycles are in the way.
Does the fire alarm go off? If so, leave the building immediately and wait outside. Then follow the instructions of COA employees.
The COA is not responsible for damage to your belongings in the reception centre, even if other residents break your belongings.
You are responsible for damage to your room and COA's belongings in your room. If it is not clear who made the damage, all occupants of the room must pay together.
You are also responsible for your visitors. Make sure they follow the house rules. You can ask for the rules for visitors at the COA information desk.
Do you have children under the age of 18?
Then you are responsible for:
Did this information help you?
