The government of the Netherlands has adopted a reform of the funding for refugee reception, which will come into effect on July 1, 2026. The country will abandon several separate support schemes and move to a single centralized model. This is expected to simplify the work of municipalities and make costs for housing and support of protected individuals more predictable. This is reported by Visit Ukraine.
The Netherlands will unify all refugee funding programs
Currently, various funding mechanisms are in place in the Netherlands depending on a person's status. Different rules apply to Ukrainians, asylum seekers, and individuals who have already received residence permits.
The government believes this system has become too complex and creates additional burdens for local authorities.
That is why starting in July, a unified funding model will be implemented, covering all categories of individuals under state protection.
What will change for municipalities
As part of the reform, local authorities will receive compensation for actual costs related to housing and supporting refugees.
The new system provides for:
• a single funding mechanism for all categories of refugees;
• reimbursement for housing and maintenance costs;
• coverage of expenses for arranging living spaces;
• reimbursement of part of administrative costs;
• the possibility of long-term budget planning.
The government of the Netherlands expects this will allow for more effective use of existing infrastructure and avoid situations where part of the living spaces remains unused.
How changes may affect Ukrainians
Directly for Ukrainian refugees, the new model does not imply the cancellation of protection or reduction of support programs.
The main goal of the reform is to change the mechanism for distributing funds between the state and municipalities. As a result, local authorities will gain more flexibility in placing people and managing reception centers.
The transitional period will last from July 1 to December 31, 2026. During this time, the old and new systems will operate in parallel to avoid disruptions in funding and ensure necessary services.
It should be noted that the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received a mine countermeasure vessel from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, named "Genichesk".