Asylum Seekers’ Limited Right to Work in the Netherlands

Europe, including the Netherlands, received a large number of asylum seekers in 2015 and early 2016.² 74635 requests for asylum were submitted in the Netherlands over a two-year period, 54% of requests were granted. In early 2016, more than 44000 people were housed in asylum seekers’ reception centres, whereas, in early 2017, the number was down to 25485.3 The decrease in new asylum seekers is due to the so-called EU-Turkey deal, which effectively sealed the border between Turkey and Greece. A rapid reduction in the processing time for asylum applications ensued, which means that an asylum seeker now has little