Boat with about 30 refugees lies off Zeeland coast
Emergency services are trying to contact the people on board, who police say do not seem to want to land in the Netherlands.
A boat carrying about 30 refugees is lying off the Dutch coast, level with Cadzand in Zeeland. Emergency services found it early on Saturday morning. Around 05:00 the first lifeboats of the KNRM, the sea rescue service, put out to sea.
Rescuers are trying to make contact with the people on board. A police spokesperson says they do not seem to want to come ashore in the Netherlands.
A Coastguard aircraft is watching the boat from the air.
In the harbour of Cadzand, emergency services are on standby to receive the refugees. Three ambulances and the Red Cross emergency team are waiting there.
Monthly asylum requests have fallen from 5,130 in October 2023 to 2,195 in September 2026
Asylum requests per month · Oct 2023–Sep 2026
Monthly asylum requests have fallen from 5,130 in October 2023 to 2,195 in September 2026 (asylum requests per month). From 5,130 in Oct 2023 to 2,195 in Sep 2026; highest 5,130 in Oct 2023, lowest 1,445 in Mar 2025. Source: CBS.
View data
| Item | Asylum requests per month |
|---|---|
| Oct 2023 | 5,130 |
| Nov 2023 | 4,255 |
| Dec 2023 | 3,925 |
| Jan 2024 | 3,405 |
| Feb 2024 | 2,835 |
| Mar 2024 | 3,185 |
| Apr 2024 | 3,005 |
| May 2024 | 2,955 |
| Jun 2024 | 2,160 |
| Jul 2024 | 2,765 |
| Aug 2024 | 2,760 |
| Sep 2024 | 3,085 |
| Oct 2024 | 2,890 |
| Nov 2024 | 2,460 |
| Dec 2024 | 2,255 |
| Jan 2025 | 1,785 |
| Feb 2025 | 1,670 |
| Mar 2025 | 1,445 |
| Apr 2025 | 1,670 |
| May 2025 | 1,925 |
| Jun 2025 | 2,115 |
| Jul 2025 | 2,235 |
| Aug 2025 | 2,120 |
| Sep 2025 | 2,865 |
| Oct 2025 | 2,615 |
| Nov 2025 | 2,650 |
| Dec 2025 | 2,745 |
| Jan 2026 | 2,230 |
| Feb 2026 | 2,125 |
| Mar 2026 | 2,115 |
| Apr 2026 | 2,275 |
| May 2026 | 2,305 |
| Jun 2026 | 2,005 |
| Jul 2026 | 2,025 |
| Aug 2026 | 1,965 |
| Sep 2026 | 2,195 |
More on asylum and migration · safety and emergencies
Follow the story: KNRM
KNRM (Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij)
The Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution is the Dutch sea rescue service that operates lifeboats from stations along the Dutch coast and the Wadden and IJssel lakes. Its lifeboat crews are largely volunteers, and they are called out to assist ships, boats and people in distress at sea. When an emergency happens offshore, the KNRM lifeboats are usually among the first rescue vessels sent out.