The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) shelled out a whopping €36.8 million last year in penalties to migrants due to delays in processing asylum applications. This marks a sharp rise compared to the €11 million paid in 2023, underscoring the deepening crisis in the nation’s asylum system.
De Telegraaf reported that nearly 30,000 migrants successfully claimed these penalties, which are often capped at €7,500 per person. Critics, including the IND, argue that these payments do nothing to speed up case resolutions and only add to the growing backlog, now exceeding 51,000 cases. The IND stated, “We have been advocating for some time to abolish judicial penalties, so we can focus entirely on processing new applications.”
Family reunification cases are piling on more pressure, with over 75,000 individuals awaiting decisions. Processing times have ballooned to between 70 and 84 weeks, despite the fact that 86% of these applications were approved in 2024. This high approval rate has sparked concerns that the system fosters dependency instead of promoting integration.
Adding to the strain, immigration has driven the Dutch population to an all-time high of 18 million. Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), which now heads a coalition government, expressed frustration over the rapid population growth, saying, “18 million people on a small piece of land… While there is a huge shortage of housing, healthcare, police. Crazy.”
In response to the mounting challenges, the government has rolled out new measures, including tighter border controls under Schengen rules. These controls, expected to last six months, aim to curb irregular migration and human smuggling without disrupting regular cross-border travel.
Even so, the Dutch immigration system seems to be bursting at the seams. Without sweeping reforms, the financial and social toll will likely worsen, fueling public dissatisfaction and overburdening the nation’s already stretched resources.
