The cabinet has lowered its forecast of how many refugees will come to the Netherlands in 2023 from 76,000 to a maximum of 60,000, broadcaster NOS reported on Friday.

The figures, which have not yet been officially published, come from a multi-year prognosis on refugee numbers that will be handed over to the cabinet later on Friday.

The cabinet now expects the number of new asylum seekers to be between 45,000 and 60,000, NOS said.

The 76,000 forecast in April led to crisis talks and calls for measures to reduce the flow of new arrivals, following last summer’s chaotic scenes when hundreds of people were forced to sleep outdoors.

The cabinet eventually fell after ministers failed to agree on measures to reduce the number of family members applying to join partners and parents. 

What’s all the fuss about immigration in the Netherlands

In total, the immigration service IND received just under 32,500 new and family requests for asylum in the first nine months of 2023, according to CBS figures. The figures do not include repeat applications from people already here.

According to justice ministry figures, 40,800 people had made a first request for asylum, a second or third request or applied to move the Netherlands as a close family member by the end of October.