Asylum Reception Facilities Oisterwijk Holland, The Netherlands property shelters, Dutch building images
Asylum Reception Facilities in Oisterwijk, The Netherlands
15 January 2026
Architects: OMA
Location: Oisterwijk, South Holland, The Netherlands
Photos © Frans Parthesius, courtesy of OMA
Asylum Reception Facilities, The Netherlands
Facilities for Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers
In February 2024, the Dutch government enacted the Asylum Reception Facilities in Municipalities (Enablement) Act, known as the Spreidingswet. The legislation requires municipalities to host asylum seekers to ensure sufficient and sustainable reception capacity nationwide, reducing reliance on costly emergency shelters. Since its implementation, 43 municipalities have added reception locations, yet half of the current capacity remains emergency shelter, falling short of the target of 96,000 reception places by 1 July 2025.
To stabilize and improve the quality of asylum reception, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has adopted the HoutKern construction method – a modular wood system developed by Circlewood and OMA – as the foundation for building reception facilities in the Netherlands. This approach ensures inclusive, dignified environments that meet contemporary sustainability standards.
The HoutKern method enables the development of a range of facilities, including shelters, offices, and schools. The system comprises standardized wooden columns and beams, crosslaminated floor panels, and bio-based partition walls, assembled on-site using an electric crane. Building services are integrated above the ceiling for comfort and flexibility. The modular framework accommodates diverse finishes, creating open, welcoming spaces for asylum seekers, staff, and local communities. Fully demountable, the structures allow for component reuse, supporting COA’s mission to promote self-reliance and dignity while contributing to CO2 reduction goals. The system also enables rapid expansion, downsizing, or transformation in response to demographic and policy changes.
The Oisterwijk reception center, which has hosted refugees since 1990, serves as the pilot site for the HoutKern method. As part of its refurbishment, new facilities built with the system – including an office, activity center, school, and storage facility – will be added, serving up to 450 residents. Each building is designed to enhance daily life, featuring distinct color palettes for intuitive wayfinding, generous glass openings, and wooden façades that convey warmth and security for both residents and the surrounding neighborhood.
Each structure has a dedicated function. The two-level office includes a waiting area and consultation rooms on the ground floor, with staff spaces and a rooftop terrace above. The activity center supports integration programs such as language and cultural education, sports, and work initiatives. Its ground floor houses a recreational hall, activity rooms, flexible-use space, and children’s playroom, while the upper level offers a quieter setting for focused learning.
The school provides spaces for kindergarten, primary, and secondary education, complemented by a playground that fosters a safe and inspiring environment – especially important for unaccompanied minors. The storage building includes a recycling center that
supports COA’s waste separation efforts.
The HoutKern system for COA is implemented by a consortium that includes Friso, Circlewood, ABT, Hedgehog, DWA, Lomans, Heko Spanten, Lüning, and OMA. The system is being applied in Amsterdam’s Innovation Partnership Schools program, which aims to build nine to
thirty high-quality, flexible, and sustainable schools that contribute to the city’s goal of achieving full circularity by 2050.
Asylum Reception Facilities in Oisterwijk, The Netherlands – Building Information
Facilities for Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers
Project: Facilities for Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers
Status: Construction
Client: Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)
Location: Oisterwijk, The Netherlands
Program: Office: 1659 sqm; Activity center: 1559 sqm; School: 2427 sqm; Storage building: 524 sqm
Partner in Charge: David Gianotten
Project Architect: Michael den Otter
Team: Roel Teeken, Blanka Miklasz, Annalot Brockhoff, Silvio de Mio
Collaborators
Partner: Friso Bouwgroep
Building Technology: ABT
Building Physics: DWA / ABT
Sustainability: Hedgehog Company
Structural Engineer: Adviesbureau Lüning
Process Management and Cost Calculator: bbn
Contractor: Friso Bouwgroep
Installations: Lomans Amersfoort
Photography © Frans Parthesius, courtesy of OMA
Asylum Reception Facilities, Oisterwijk, The Netherlands images / information received 150126
Location: Leiden, province of South Holland, The Netherlands, western Europe.
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