At least five people were arrested in the town of Uden on Wednesday night when a protest against plans to open three refugee housing projects in the area turned violent.

The local authority was holding an information evening about the proposals when around 300 protestors gathered outside. At around 9 pm, some began throwing stones, bottles and fireworks at the building, while others paraded with lit torches.

Riot police were called in to disperse the crowd and made several arrests.

The municipality of Maashorst, which includes Uden, is planning to develop three sites with space for a total of 750 asylum seekers, as well as local youngsters looking for their first home and urgent cases.

The protest is the latest in a wave of demonstrations against local authority plans to open refugee housing, particularly in Noord-Brabant.

Opnieuw escaleert een protest tegen de komst van een AZC, nu in Uden https://t.co/3yGB2pvutV

— NOS (@NOS) April 9, 2025

Last week, a group of protestors attempted to storm a sports centre in Best where a similar information session was taking place. In Berlicum, angry demonstrators pelted the town hall with eggs.

The protests appear to be having an impact. In several places, including Berlicum, the proposed plans for refugee centres have since been dropped.

The Dutch local authorities organisation VNG has linked the protests to government policy.

“The protests have returned since the government decided to abandon the policy of distributing refugees across the country,” said Mark Boumans, mayor of Doetinchem, in an interview with public broadcaster NOS.

Local authorities have until July to submit their plans to the government, even though the cabinet plans to withdraw the legislation.

Meanwhile, Maashorst mayor Hans van der Pas has called on the government to denounce the protests and give a clear signal that such behaviour is unacceptable.

A demonstration is “absolutely no reason” to put plans to develop accommodation for refugees on ice, he said.