The number of asylum applications in Belgium was higher than expected in December 2024.
A total of 3,560 people submitted applications, significantly more than in previous Decembers, stated the outgoing Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor (CD&V) in a Home Affairs Committee session on Wednesday.
In previous years, asylum applications in December totalled 2,739 (2021), 2,620 (2022), and 3,304 (2023). This year's figure has therefore seen a substantial increase.
Despite the rise in applications, the number of people housed in hotels has dropped to 277. Six months ago, this number was 728. This decrease is partly due to the opening of temporary accommodations, including in youth centres.
