Netherlands: Opening of the "Ocean Emperor" cruise ship, refugees have nowhere to settle. Netherlands | Cruise | Refugees
According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur on August 9, due to the serious shortage of housing, the Netherlands is now increasingly using old cruise ships to resettle refugees.
A spokesperson for relevant departments in the Netherlands stated on the 9th that the "Ocean Emperor" cruise ship stopped overnight at the Port of Fersen, about 30 kilometers west of Amsterdam. Starting from the end of August, about 300 people will temporarily reside on board. He said that these people have residence permits and are waiting for the apartment.
According to reports, the "Ocean Emperor" is approximately 135 meters long and has a history of nearly 50 years.
The spokesperson said, "This is not a vacation destination, but accommodation provided due to the lack of other reception venues." He also added that the cruise ship will continue to dock at Fairson Port until the end of 2024.
The report states that the Netherlands is facing a crisis of providing shelter for asylum seekers. Due to the scarcity of housing in society, many people still live in shelters even if they have a long-term residence permit. Due to the limited availability of housing for new refugees, the government has requested that municipal authorities seek temporary solutions.