Emergency asylum shelter on cruise ship MS Galaxy in Western Port Area extended following minister's request

The Amsterdam city council has agreed to extend the contract for the MS Galaxy cruise ship, which serves as an emergency shelter for asylum seekers in the Westelijk Havengebied. This decision follows a request from Minister Bart van den Brink, prompted by worsening conditions at the Ter Apel registration center, where individuals have been forced to sleep outside. Originally scheduled to close earlier this week, the ship will now remain in operation while the city negotiates further terms with the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). While the city aims to eventually transition to more permanent facilities, including a new center planned for the Houthaven area in 2027, the ongoing crisis has necessitated this repeated extension of emergency measures.

Operating since 2022, the MS Galaxy has faced significant criticism regarding its living conditions, including reports of mental health struggles and limited facilities. Although city officials maintain that placing families on the ship is undesirable, they acknowledge that a temporary stay cannot be completely ruled out. The state covers the approximate 3 million euro monthly cost of maintaining the vessel as part of the broader national effort to address the shortfall in reception capacity.