Dutch railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) is contemplating removing the Maarheeze station in Brabant from its service routes due to the mounting costs of security measures required to address ongoing incidents involving residents of a nearby asylum reception center.
These measures, which include ticket checks before both entry and exit, additional security personnel, and infrastructure upgrades including considerable surveillance, were initially funded by the government but now face uncertainty following departmental reforms.
The station, situated near the Budel asylum center, has seen a range of issues, including fare evasion and harassment of passengers and staff. In response, the NS implemented enhanced security protocols in February 2023, deploying security guards, installing fences, and increasing cameras. While these measures have reportedly made the situation “manageable,” they have cost approximately €2.3 million annually. While initially recovered by the relevant ministry, there is uncertainty as to whether the new Ministry of Asylum and Migration formed last year will pick up the bill.
“Asylum seekers sitting on the benches drinking and harassing other passengers and NS staff. And you have asylum seekers who dodge the fare,” said a spokesperson for the rail operator.
Despite being a modest station offering services to a town of around 4,500 people, a total of 2,700 incident reports were filed last year and the rail operator had to hire five full-time security guards to keep the peace.
As reported by de Volskrant newspaper, NS spokespersons argue that the financial burden should rest with the government, not the railway company. Despite repeated appeals for continued funding, no commitments have been made, prompting NS to warn of the possibility of skipping Maarheeze station entirely — a move criticized by local officials and residents.
Mayor Roland van Kessel of Cranendonck, which includes Maarheeze, condemned the potential closure as an “unacceptable” move that would result in “disastrous consequences for both the accessibility of our municipality and for the social and economic structure of the region.”
Meanwhile, State Secretary for Public Transport Chris Jansen (PVV) pledged to prevent the station’s closure but stopped short of confirming a funding solution, stating, “We will discuss together how we are going to divide it. Costs are very often the problem in this country.”
Those living in the vicinity of the Dutch village told de Volksrant of their unwelcome experiences traveling along the route. “I often read strange things about Maarheeze, so I wouldn’t mind if the train no longer stops there. When you drive past, these men sometimes stare at you. That’s not pleasant,” said 20-year-old Emma Pangonyte.
The village, just south of Eindhoven is situated around 20 kilometers from Helmond where five underage asylum seekers were convicted last week for the gang rape of a 31-year-old woman who was attacked while sitting on a bench in the popular Burgemeester Geukerspark.
The Budel asylum center is one of the largest in the Netherlands, providing accommodation to around 1,200 foreign nationals in the former Nassau Dietzkazerne military barracks.
