Here is what you can do if you are uhappy with the municipality's reception centre
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If you are dissatisfied with the reception centre where you are staying, you can talk to the municipality or file a complaint.
Dissatisfied with reception centre conditions
You may not like the conditions at a reception centre. Poor conditions include:
The reception centre that is not suitable for lodging. It is too cold, dirty or there is little privacy.
The quality of food in a reception centre is not good.
There is no education for children under 18 years of age.
There are too few activities at a reception centre.
The location is not appropriate for you because of medical problems.
You are not in the same reception centre as your family members.
In conversation with employees at the location
Are you dissatisfied with your reception centre for any of the above reasons? Or about something else? Then you can first have a conversation with an employee of your reception centre or your contact person at the municipality. Indicate that you would like to talk about the problems you are experiencing at the reception centre. You can prepare for this conversation. For example by listing the problems for yourself:
What the problem is.
Since when this has been the case.
What the effect is on you or your family.
If you already have your own ideas for possible solutions, you can also bring them up in the conversation.
Support with preparation
A consultant of VluchtelingenWek Nederland (VWN) can support you in preparing for this conversation. Together you can look at how best to explain your situation and what steps are appropriate.
Important to know
Always discuss first whether it makes sense in your situation to file a complaint. Some questions are often not possible due to the major shortage of places in reception centres. For example:
Moving to another reception location.
Being placed together in 1 room.
Even if your situation is very understandable and difficult, a complaint usually does not solve it.
A consultant from VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) can look with you to see what is possible in your situation and what steps you can take.
Demonstrating about the reception centre
If you are dissatisfied with the reception centre, you are also allowed to protest. In the Netherlands, the right to protest is in the Dutch constitution. This falls under freedom of speech, which applies in the Netherlands. Even if you do not yet have a 5-year asylum residence permit, you are entitled to protest.
If you want to protest, these points are important to you:
You must tell the municipality that you are going to protest. Do this 48 hours in advance via your municipality's website. This is because the municipality must support your protest. For example, if you need traffic controllers for your protest, the municipality must arrange this for you. If you are going to protest on your own, you do not have to let them know.
You do not need a permit to protest, nor do you need government permission.
The police may not simply break up your protest. Only the mayor of the municipality can restrict or prohibit your protest.
While you are demonstrating the police should protect you from public.