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21 January 2004
AMSTERDAM — A 47-year-old Dutchman has applied for asylum in Belgium because the Netherlands has refused him permission to set up tent wherever he likes.
The man is presently staying in the asylum seeker centre near the town of Sint-Truiden in Belgian-Limburg, Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Wednesday.
But Belgium has not welcomed the man with open arms and rejected his request for asylum several months ago. The Dutchman appealed the decision and was subsequently taken to the asylum seeker centre to await the outcome.
Belgian authorities believe the man is homeless and is in a confused state, but there has been no talk of deporting him.
It is not the first time that a Dutch national has requested asylum in Belgium, despite the fact that only political refugees can officially apply for asylum.
The Belgian Interior Ministry said it receives a request for asylum from a Dutch national every year.
[Copyright Expatica News 2004]
Subject: Dutch news + Belgian news