The Netherlands is seeking to exit the EU's asylum system, a move led by the radical-right government under the influence of the Party for Freedom (PVV) and its leader, Geert Wilders.

The Dutch government has formally requested an exemption from the EU Commission to implement stricter immigration controls, citing the need to manage national resources like housing and healthcare more effectively.

However, this request is unlikely to succeed, as it requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states, a challenging feat given the existing EU-wide asylum reform agreements.

The government plans to declare a national asylum crisis, allowing it to bypass parliamentary approval to enforce new measures.

This approach has sparked controversy, with legal experts questioning its legitimacy and opposition parties condemning it as undemocratic.

Despite the stable number of asylum seekers, the Netherlands faces significant challenges in accommodating them due to previous budget cuts and housing shortages.