Fortunately for the Somalis, these residences are unaffordable and therefore have not yet found buyers, so they can immediately move into one of these expensive gas-free properties, the Dutch daily, De Dagelijkse Standaard reported.
This is all possible, because a Dutch judge ruled in favor of Somali “Brexit-returnees”. The Somali family who “fled” from Birmingham to the Netherlands must immediately receive a new house in Almere, the court in Utrecht ruled on Friday after an urgent application.
Many more Somalis with a Dutch passport want to leave the UK – mostly because of Brexit, and Dutch ministries have even campaigned across the Channel among the approximately 25 000 former Somali people to prevent them from packing their bags en masse and returning.
The Dutch want to keep them in the UK, because the already struggling housing market will become even more burdened if they are allowed to enter the country.
Various ministries have thus run a campaign to combat the flow of “refugees”. But if Dutch courts place foreigners directly in homes, they signal to migrants that there is still an open invitation to come to the Netherlands. The British too must be happy to get rid of their headache.
The Somalis actually came to the Netherlands in the 1990s as asylum seekers, but then they made the choice to move to Britain, because of better opportunities to live together as a community. There was also a better business climate, but many now regret it and want to return.
The family that won the summary proceedings claimed that they would end up on the street with a seven-month-old baby after their applications for homes in Leiden, Alphen and Almere were rejected.
Municipalities refused the family with four young children a home because they argued that the Anglo-Dutch Somalis were “culpably homeless” since their poorly prepared their return from Birmingham to the Netherlands.
All people with a Dutch passport who come to the country must make sure to arrange suitable living conditions prior to their departure. Priority in housing allocation or homeless shelter is not intended for people who hurriedly and deliberately decide to come to the Netherlands on a whim.
In this case, the judge relied on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A child is entitled to a roof over its head. In addition, the family in Britain had allegedly feared violence, forcing them to leave in a hurry. A Dutch friend had promised them shelter, but eventually changed his mind.
Thanks to the targeted government campaign, no large wave of Dutch-Somali Brexit “refugees”have yet arrived, says a spokesperson for the Interior. Up to now there have been only “a few” who made the crossing. “We received signals that there were concerns, which is why we passed on the message in Somali that there is no reason to panic. We told them that nothing will change for them for the time being after Brexit. They are fine there.”
The Somali family left an excellent — and safe — residential area in the UK to be able to benefit from the Dutch state.
Even though the government had good intentions, the court decision brought about the opposite, playing on Brexit fears.
Anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders was not amused by court’s decision. “Sure, first 50 000 homes for fortune-seekers, and these now go to Somalis. Our own people last.”
Tuurlijk, eerst 50.000 huizen naar gelukszoekers en nu gaan ze naar Somaliërs. Eigen volk laatst. https://t.co/bzr7zgub3s via @telegraaf
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) August 23, 2019
Many Dutch people have been getting into serious financial problems due to high healthcare costs. And that can have far-reaching consequences, according to a major study by RTL Nieuws. People have to sell their houses, request a divorce to divide the costs or can no longer go on holiday. Some 1 250 households are struggling with costs, have already done so.
RTL Nieuws spoke to dozens of people who are in financial trouble because they are sick and experts have confirmed that this is a major national issue.
Toosje Valkenburg, a medical doctor, says everything has become more costly, including rents. “Because life is already expensive, rents are expensive, or other costs are high and the health care costs come on top of that.”