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The municipal council in IJsselstein has said it should have been “more thorough” in its handling of the decision to house 150 refugees on a sports field.
The town near Utrecht was one of several places where violent protests have been staged in recent months, fuelled by far-right groups such as Defend Netherlands and Identitair Verzet.
Football club IJFC took the council to court demanding compensation for the decision to place temporary shelters on its grounds and secure guarantees that the refugees will be moved on by the end of the year.
The club’s board complained it had not not been consulted properly on the decision, which was announced towards the end of a routine meeting.
Mayor Ester Westersteijn told the council on Wednesday that the club should have been notified of the decision earlier and separate talks should have been held.
The council earmarked the football club as the site of a refugee shelter to meet its obligations under the so-called “spreading law”, which requires all local authorities to take in a fair share of refugees and ease overcrowding at the reception centre in Ter Apel.
The council executive should also have communicated better with the elected members, she added. The refugee housing was raised during a short council session that did not address all questions from councillors.
More protests
Renewed protests were held this week as the first 50 refugees, who have been given residential status in the Netherlands, moved in to the facility.
A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and the grass verge beside the pitch was set on fire as a group of 15 to 20 gathered outside the football club, police said.
The mayor said the ongoing demonstrations had delayed public consultations on the plans and put strain on police, the prosecution service and council staff.
“The increasing severity of the demonstrations and the outbursts of violence that have gone with them in the period from the end of April to mid-May made it necessary to take measures for the safety of our residents, staff and administrators,” she said.
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