Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), kicked off his election campaign in Helmond with a speech at a protest against the creation of a new asylum seekers' center in the southern Dutch city. The municipality plans to house fifty unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, sparking opposition from local residents.

At the protest, Wilders asked the crowd, "Have you also had enough of all these asylum centers? Do you want another asylum center?" right-leaning De Telegraaf reported Wilders as saying.

Stanley Hazes, a Helmond local, reportedly told the Dutch newspaper that migrants who come to the Netherlands "don't adapt. They don’t respect women. I voted for Wilders and will do so again."

Truus, another Helmond local, said he is pleased Wilders left the cabinet and that asylum seekers "need somewhere to live" and be given proper housing, De Telegraaf reported. 

Wilders claims far-right party will 'reconquer' the Netherlands

Wilders used the event to criticize political rivals, including the VVD (People's party for Freedom and Democracy -- described as a conservative liberal political party) and CDA (Christian Democrats --another conservative party), accusing them of failing to protect the country's borders.

"VVD, CDA, BBB [Farmer-Citizen movement -- described as a right-wing populist party], NSC [New Social Contract party --described as center to center-right], they have all failed. I asked them if you are prepared to guard the borders, but they don't dare. That is why the cabinet fell and that is why we have elections in October and are going to reconquer our country," Wilders said.

The protest was organized by Forum voor Democratie (FvD), with FvD leader Thierry Baudet also attending.

Wilders has long opposed the expansion of asylum centers in the Netherlands and has pushed for stricter immigration policies.

Wilders' 10-point plan on asylum

A month ago, Wilders withdrew support from the government due to disagreements over asylum policy. In his 10-point plan, "De grens is bereikt" (The Limit Has Been Reached), Wilders proposed no further asylum centers be established. He reiterated this position at the protest in Helmond, underlining that "no more asylum centers should be added."

Though Wilders and other critics oppose new asylum centers, the government has implemented the Distribution Act, which requires municipalities to create reception places for asylum seekers, even in areas with local opposition.

The law has sparked protests like the one in Helmond, where residents are divided over the arrival of new facilities.

Netherlands aims to 'better distribute' migrant reception centers

The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) (Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers), reported on Tuesday, July 1 that while the numbers from the Distribution Act have not been fully met, "thanks to the law, there is a better distribution of reception locations," adding that the COA was working with "more municipalities than ever."

By July 1, the law required municipalities to provide a total of 101,500 shelter places. Although about 74,500 places have been secured, COA said that there is still much work to be done.

"While we’re still too dependent on emergency shelters, the law has set things in motion," COA board chairman Milo Schoenmaker said. He added that about 120 sustainable shelter locations, providing 27,000 spaces, are now in preparation. However, emergency shelters remain in place, and further work is needed to ensure long-term, stable accommodation, the COA added.

Local resistance to the Distribution Act remains strong, with some municipalities continuing to oppose the expansion of asylum centers. The political debate surrounding immigration and asylum will continue to be a key issue in the upcoming Dutch elections in October.