Majority of asylum applications rejected in Netherlands last year, data shows
Dutch authorities rejected 8,120 applications in 2025, compared with 7,430 approvals, according to Statistics Netherlands
A solidarity march was organized in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, to draw attention to the housing problems of refugees
LONDON
The Netherlands rejected 56% more asylum applications in 2025 than a year earlier, with refusals surpassing approvals last year, according to data released Monday by the country’s statistics office.
The Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) issued 15,550 initial asylum decisions last year, with 8,120 applications rejected, compared with 7,430 approvals, public broadcaster NOS reported, citing Statistics Netherlands (CBS) figures.
The data also showed 27% decline in the total number of initial asylum decisions last year compared with 2024.
Statistics revealed that the number of residence permits granted under subsidiary protection fell sharply, as some 2,900 people received such permits in 2025, meaning a 70% drop from the previous year.
The number of people granted full refugee status also declined, falling 35% to 3,400, while residence permits issued on humanitarian grounds rose by 35%.
Decisions on asylum applications from Syrians also dropped sharply in 2025.
The figures showed that the IND issued just 390 decisions on Syrian asylum applications last year, granting residence permits in 28% of cases, while authorities made 10,700 decisions on Syrian cases, approving 95% of them in 2024.
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