Road of Hope

11/05/2026

Why is this European pact coming into force now?
For years now, large numbers of people have been coming to Europe to seek asylum. Some countries in Europe have to take in far more people than others. This is the case, for example, with Greece, Italy and Spain. This is because they are often the first countries where refugees arrive in Europe. For years, this has led to long waiting times, overcrowding in reception centres and uncertainty for asylum seekers in those countries. And these countries feel that the other European countries are not helping them enough. Europe has therefore long sought agreements on a common European asylum policy. And this has now been achieved with the European Pact on Migration and Asylum

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: refugeehelp.nl/en/asylum-seeker/news/100664-the-european-pact-on-migration-and-asylum-comes-into-force-on-12-june-2026-what-does-this-mean

05/05/2026

🌸 May with Road of Hope – Join Us! 🌸

Here’s what’s happening in May — and you’re warmly invited! 💜

✅ Taalcafé ☕🇳🇱
📅 Wednesdays (bi-weekly) | 🕖 19:00–20:30
📍 Appelweg 1200 (only for residents)
Enjoy fun and creative activities, good conversations, and a great chance to practice and improve your Dutch.

✅ Koffie Uurtje ☕
📅 Every Thursday | 🕘 9:00–10:00
📍 OBA de Banne – Bezaanjachtplein 249
Join us for a warm moment of connection, creativity, and Dutch practice.

✅ Morning Tea 🍵
📅 7 & 12 May | 🕙 10:00–12:00
📍 Melkweg (meeting room)
Start your day with a relaxing tea moment and friendly conversations.

✅ Spreekuur (Consultation Hours)
📅 After 23 April | 🕙 10:00–12:00 (by appointment)
📍 By appointment
Need guidance or support? Book your time with us.

✅ Mental Health Workshop 🧠
📅 8 May | 🕓 16:00–18:00
📍 Vrouw en Vaart centrum – President Allendelaan 733, 1068 VN Amsterdam
Join us for an important workshop focused on mental health and wellbeing.

✅ Motherhood Across Culture Course 👩‍👧🌍
📅 7–28 May | 🕙 10:00–12:00
📍 Vrouw en Vaart Emancipation Center – President Allendelaan 733, 1068 VN Amsterdam
A special course to connect, share experiences, and support motherhood across cultures.

✅ Workshop: “The Impact of Screen Time on Young Children” 📱👶
📅 12 May | 🕙 10:00–12:00
📍 SomAstel’s center – Stichting SomAstel, Burgemeester de Vlugtlaan 125, 1063 BJ Amsterdam
Learn about how screen time affects young children and how to create healthy routines.

✅ Workshop: “The Impact of Screen Time on Young Children” 📱👶
📅 17 May | 🕒 15:00–17:00
📍 Vrouw en Vaart Emancipation Center – President Allendelaan 733, 1068 VN Amsterdam
A second opportunity to join this important workshop!

💬 There’s something for everyone this month. Come connect, learn, share, and grow with us. May is full of opportunities! 🌷✨

27/04/2026

On King's Day, the Netherlands celebrates the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. King's Day is therefore not a political day but a public holiday. The king is the head of state of the Netherlands and is part of the government. But in practice, the king has little political influence and his duties are generally mainly symbolic and festive.

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: refugeehelp.nl/en/asylum-seeker/news/100163-king-s-day-on-monday-27-april-party-in-orange

20/04/2026

Plans to make it a criminal offence to be in the Netherlands without proper papers will also affect the international community, D66 senator Boris Dittrich has told Dutch News.

D66, the largest party in the current coalition, has been against two bills to further restrict asylum applications from the outset, and Dittrich said he hopes the measures will not pass in next week’s senate vote.

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: dutchnews.nl/2026/04/new-dutch-asylum-law-would-hit-international-community-too/

13/04/2026

On Monday 13 April and Tuesday 14 April 2026, the members of the Senate, the senators, will debate the Asylum Emergency Measures Act.
They will also debate the amendment 'Aanpassing strafbaarheidstelling illegaal verblijf' (amendment to the criminalisation of illegal residence) and the 'Wet invoering tweestatusstelsel' (act introducing the dual-status system). The legislative proposals date from the previous government.

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: refugeehelp.nl/en/asylum-seeker/news/100653-the-senate-will-debate-and-vote-on-the-national-asylum-laws-what-can-you-expect

06/04/2026

🌸 April with Road of Hope – Join Us! 🌸

Here’s what’s happening in April — and you’re warmly invited! 💜

✅ Koffie Uurtje ☕
📅 Every Thursday | 🕘 9:00–10:00
📍 Huis van de Wijk – Kometensingel 189
Enjoy fun and creative activities, meaningful conversations, and a great chance to practice your Dutch. Come join us!

✅ Personal Development Course
📅 Until 9 April | 🕙 10:00–12:00
📍 Vrouw en Vaart – President Allendelaan 733, 1068 VN Amsterdam
Continue your journey of growth, self-discovery, and empowerment.

✅ Easter Picnic 🐣
📅 14 April | 🕛 12:00–14:00
📍 Vrouw en Vaart centrum – President Allendelaan 733, Amsterdam
Celebrate spring together with a cozy and joyful picnic!

✅ Cultural Dinner Spring 🌷
📅 15 April | 🕕 18:00–20:00
📍 Melkweg
An evening of culture, connection, and delicious food — let’s celebrate diversity together!

✅ Spreekuur (Consultation Hours)
📅 23 April | 🕙 10:00–12:00
📍 By appointment
Need guidance or support? Book your time with us.

✅ Kickboxing Workshop 🥊
📅 25 April | 🕑 14:00–15:30
📍 Boogieland
Boost your energy, confidence, and strength in this dynamic session!

💬 There’s something for everyone this month. Come connect, learn, share, and grow with us — April is looking good on you already.

30/03/2026

“When the police asked for my documents for the fourth time, I told them: are you not tired of bringing me in?” says Omar* with a dry smile. A tall, charismatic man, Omar has lived undocumented in the Netherlands for 23 years.

He’s spent nearly two of those years in migrant detention centers: “It’s just like a prison, but worse,” he says. “You don’t know when you’ll be out. You can’t do anything all day. You don’t even have your personal room. You feel crushed.”

Omar is not alone. People from all walks of life can be held in a migrant detention center for being undocumented, that is, without the right to stay in the Netherlands on paper. People with stable jobs and families in the Netherlands, people who have suffered traumas and survived torture, people with no prospects of returning to their countries, and even children.

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: unbiasthenews.org/prison-of-papers-as-netherlands-ramps-ups-detentions-undocumented-immigrants-speak-out/

23/03/2026

Far-right and local parties seem to have benefited from locals’ resistance to plans to open an asylum shelter in their municipalities. In various municipalities, parties opposed to asylum shelters won significantly. The PVV more than doubled its seats in Terneuzen, where resistance to an asylum shelter ultimately led to the mayor resigning. And the far-right FvD made the biggest gains in yesterday’s election.

The PVV became the biggest party in Terneuzen with 7 seats, up from 3 seats in the council. The party loudly campaigned against the arrival of an asylum shelter in the run-up to the election.

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: nltimes.nl/2026/03/19/resistance-asylum-shelters-led-far-right-gains-municipal-elections

23/03/2026

16/03/2026

Yousef was 17 when he came to the Netherlands alone from Syria and received a residence permit asylum when he was 18. According to the IND
he no longer needed his parents by then, he was an adult. But Yousef knew that Dutch law allowed him to have his parents come to the Netherlands, so he did not give up. "It was not easy," he says. "My application was rejected 3 more times before it succeeded".

Read the full article in our stories.

Source: refugeehelp.nl/en/asylum-seeker/experience/100613-yousef-28-from-syria-has-a-chance-to-win-a-seat-on-the-municipal-council-you-have-the-right-to-vote-use-it

11/03/2026

We celebrated International Women’s Day with a special Beauty Workshop organized by our Breath of Hope project, bringing together amazing women for moments of relaxation, connection, and awareness, showing the beauty of unity, diversity, and sisterhood.

Around 40 women from different nationalities came together and enjoyed professional make-up, manicures, henna art, skincare tips, and lovely goodie bags, but the day was also about something deeper. The color purple reminded us of the global movement against violence toward women, while important information and support resources were shared with everyone.

🗣️”I loved this workshop, I want your make-up,” shared one participant.
🗣️”We will join the next one,” said others who took home our brochures and support contacts.

Thank you to Emancipation Center Vrouw en Vaart for hosting us and supporting women’s empowerment.

More moments of care and connection are coming soon with Breath of Hope 💫