More than 200 asylum seekers at the reception centre in Luttelgeest and more than 70 in Zeewolde have found paid work through a project involving the centres and municipalities, according to the account. The project began nearly three years ago and is supported by a participation desk that matches asylum seekers with employers. Paid work is available to asylum seekers who have lived in the Netherlands for at least six months; others are helped to find volunteer positions. A participant from Afghanistan works in a restaurant and said the job helped him learn the language and culture and meet people.

The municipality of Zeewolde recently assigned an employee to the project for one day a week, allowing staff to make more matches with local employers. Some participants work in the nearby industrial area, including in jobs for which employers provide forklift training. Asylum seekers who work contribute to their own care costs, with a maximum payment of €571 per month, and the project also aims to support their integration and further training.