Amsterdam Keeps Dormitory Open Despite Migrant Violence
21st January 2026
A dormitory in Amsterdam intended to promote “coexistence” between asylum seekers and local students has faced repeated incidents of violence, sexual assault, and drug-related offenses, yet the municipality has ruled out an early closure. The “Stek Oost” integration project, launched in 2018, now looks set to continue until April 2028.
The 250-resident dormitory house is half allocated to Dutch students and half to asylum seekers. A buddy system was introduced to foster cohesion between the groups. However, reports indicate that violent incidents, including sexual assaults and knife threats, have occurred in shared spaces. In one case, a Syrian resident involved in a sexual offense in 2019 was only removed in 2022 after committing a second sexual offence. He was later imprisoned.
Housing association Stadgenoot, responsible for the facility, requested an action plan from the municipality and police as early as 2019. Despite these warnings and staff threats, the municipality maintained that it could not abruptly displace 250 people.