Netherlands Approves Stricter Asylum Law
The Dutch House of Representatives has
passed
a controversial bill aimed at tightening asylum policies in the Netherlands, significantly restricting access to asylum and family reunification rights.
The legislative package, approved on 3 July 2025, also criminalizes residing in the country without valid documents and offering assistance to undocumented individuals.
To come into force, the proposed laws must now pass through the Dutch Senate, where they are expected to be debated in the autumn. The outcome remains uncertain, as opposition to the measures continues to mount.
Legal experts, government advisors, asylum authorities, and refugee organisations have raised serious concerns over the legislation, warning that the new rules may be legally questionable and difficult to implement in practice.
The bills were spearheaded by far-right populist Geert Wilders, whose anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV) has pushed for what it calls the strictest asylum policy in Dutch history.
Although the PVV was part of the governing coalition for the first time, the alliance collapsed in June 2025 due to deep disagreements over asylum policy. New parliamentary elections are scheduled for late October.
Despite the government's fall, Wilders' PVV—currently the largest party in the House—voted in favor of the new asylum restrictions, alongside former coalition partners.
Asylum seekers represent around 12% of annual immigration to the Netherlands. In 2024, approximately 32,000 individuals applied for asylum, with an additional 10,000 family members joining them.
However, the first quarter of 2025 saw a steep 50% drop in new asylum applications, reflecting similar trends observed across Europe.
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