Katwijk swaps part of its refugee housing task with two towns

Katwijk has fallen behind in housing status holders because too few homes have been built in recent years, according to alderman Max van Duijn (DURF). The municipal council's committee discussed the problem on Thursday evening.

Councillors had many questions about a letter from the province of Zuid-Holland and about the swaps Katwijk wants to make under the spreidingswet, the dispersal law. The law lets municipalities in the same region trade parts of their task with each other.

Katwijk has agreed a deal with Hillegom and Lisse, which take over part of its task. Van Duijn said the arrangement works out better for Katwijk. "If you look at the proportions, this really is a better deal," he said.

Another deal, with a further municipality, is in the works. If it succeeds, the remaining task will be lower still.

"With the swap and other options we at least have some relief," the alderman said. "We can't clear the whole backlog straight away, but there is relief at any rate."

CDA council member Jacco van Duijn was sceptical. "The province has put us fairly high on the intervention ladder. If the situation does not improve, they can step in," he said, and asked: "What do we get if the partners do not deliver?"

ChristenUnie group leader Samantha Haasnoot called the deal with Hillegom and Lisse a good solution. "The province's letter greatly surprises us," she said. The council will discuss the housing plan Katwijk has to deliver to the province at a later date.