Housing for Migrant Workers

Migrant workers who stay to work and live here for an extended period or permanently bring significant added value to businesses and local communities. The municipality wants to provide high-quality housing because we want to try to retain migrant workers in our community. Good housing is very important in this regard. 

Good for Everyone

Many sectors are increasingly dependent on migrant workers, particularly the construction industry, the agricultural sector, engineering and manufacturing, and transportation and logistics. However, there is a shortage of housing where they can live. As a result, they often live in rented rooms in private homes and at vacation parks. All too often, these are unsafe and inhumane conditions. We estimate that there are currently about 200 homes in Moerdijk being rented out by the room to migrant workers. When migrant workers are able to transition to the new housing initiatives, these ordinary homes will become available for other people looking for housing—for example, people who are urgently seeking housing due to a divorce. This housing solution therefore benefits all those seeking housing in the municipality.

Living Together

Migrant workers are people just like everyone else: people with their own stories, dreams, and ambitions. To make those dreams come true, they come here to work. You may be concerned about migrant workers coming to your community. You might wonder if there will still be enough work for you, or if there will still be affordable housing left for young people. It’s clear that we desperately need migrant workers. There are already significant staff shortages in healthcare and logistics. We cannot achieve our current economic goals on our own; we need extra hands to do so. We provide good housing for migrant workers and discuss this thoroughly with the local community. Onthe Flexwonen website,you can see some examples of how living together can work well.

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Housing for Migrant Workers on Farms in Rural Areas

In the municipality of Moerdijk, agricultural businesses often employ migrant workers. To enable suitable housing on the business premises, the policy outlined in the 2022 Rural Area Vision was relaxed. As a result, housing may now be provided not only in units on the property, but also in mobile homes or chalets on the premises, or in accommodations built into farm buildings. This is permitted only under strict conditions:

• Housing is available only to migrant workers who are employed by the agricultural business itself.
• The maximum number of residents is determined based on the size and location of the business, its accessibility, and its parking facilities.
• The facilities must meet the standards of the AKF quality mark (accommodations at recreational sites are expressly excluded from this).
• Parking must be arranged on the property itself.
• The housing must be well integrated into the landscape, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Landscape Quality Plan.
• The entrepreneur maintains an effective dialogue with the local community.

For all other forms of housing for migrant workers, the general policy set forth in the Rural Areas Vision continues to apply.

A permit is always required for housing. The municipality reviews applications against the applicable quality standards and monitors compliance. This approach seeks to strike a balance between the needs of agricultural businesses for workers and ensuring a safe and livable environment in rural areas.

Zevenbergen Initiative for Housing Migrant Workers

Sabes Vastgoed has submitted a request to the municipality to build housing for 800 migrant workers on De Langeweg in Zevenbergen, across from the Zwanengat industrial park. The draft plan calls for the construction of several three-story buildings with parking, recreational facilities, and green spaces. DSV will lease a significant number of housing units. The housing may include living spaces for people in urgent need of housing, such as those seeking immediate housing due to a divorce. On-site management will be available 24/7. The draft plan is subject to change as it is finalized. More information about the initiative can be found on the organizers’ website.

The City Council has decided to allow the project initiators to investigate the feasibility of the plan. This includes, among other things, financial feasibility, regulations regarding proper land use, and how the project as a whole can function within the existing environment of businesses and residents. If a feasible plan is presented, the intention is to grant a permit. No final decision has been made at this time.

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Promising initiatives currently undergoing the proposal process

In 2022, the municipality actively sought suitable housing for 1,500 foreign workers. An information session and an opportunity to submit proposals resulted in 11 plans being submitted. These were evaluated based on criteria such as: location, development plan, management, community engagement, and any added value the initiative might provide. The five highest-scoring proposals were designated as “promising” by the municipal executive. Of these five, two have since been withdrawn. Three proposals are still under review.

The promising initiatives currently under review are:

Address	Location	Current Position	Number of seats in the initiative
Blokdijk 1	Moerdijk	campground	450
13a Oude Molensedijk	Fijnaart	pig farm	320
7 Zwaluwsedijk	Moerdijk	dairy farm	112

The map shows the locations.

Status of Promising Initiatives

There are plans and studies for new large-scale housing for a total of 1,682 migrant workers. Below is an overview of the current status of each initiative.

• In mid-June, the municipality of Moerdijk granted an environmental permit for the project at Blokdijk 1 in Moerdijk to build a campus with temporary housing units for a total of 450 migrant workers.
• A draft application has been submitted for the project at Oudemolensedijk 13 (320 migrant workers) in Fijnaart.
• A new developer has been identified for the project at Zwaluwsedijk 7 in Moerdijk (112 migrant workers). The request for approval in principle has been reviewed. The next step will be the draft application.
• A draft application has been submitted for the initiative on De Langeweg in Zevenbergen (800 migrant workers).
• The proposal for the property at Sebastiaansweg 1N in Moerdijk (near Kanters) has since been withdrawn. The new owner intends to develop only truck parking spaces at this location.
• The initiative at Langeweg 12 in Zevenbergen was withdrawn by the municipality because the preliminary application submitted did not meet the established criteria. If desired, the initiator may submit a new initiative, which will then be reevaluated.