On 20 July 2012, the Council of Ministers agreed to purchase an open return center. At the request of the Immigration Office and the Régie des Bâtiments, the Purchasing Committee Mechelen purchased the building in Holsbeek. This purchase is the result of an intense collaboration between Servais Verherstraeten, State Secretary for Régie des Bâtiments and Maggie De Block, State Secretary for Migration and Asylum Policy and Social Integration and Poverty.

The Immigration Office, supported by Fedasil, will be responsible for managing the return center. the centre in Holsbeek will offer around a hundred new places. In September 2012, there 300 places were already created in four existing Fedasil centres.

Asylum seekers will stay in the center to prepare their voluntary return to their country of origin. They will go through several steps and will be actively assisted in this respect. They will be informed about voluntary return and psychosocial barriers will be discussed and solved.

More information (in French or Dutch only) on this Return Centre on the website of the State Secretary for Migration and Asylum Policy and Social Integration and Poverty.