On Friday, March 18, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands launched the new website, Refugee Help, in Rijswijk. The website is an “…initiative of the VluchtelingenWerk Nederland and SparkOptimus, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Security, IND, Salvation Army, Navara, OpenEmbassy, ​​Pharos, Red Cross, UAF, UNHCR and many other NGOs, civil society organizations and private initiatives…” according to a press release via RVD.

Refugee Help provides vital information for Ukrainian refugees who recently arrived in the Netherlands. The website lists information such as housing, public transport, education, medical care, employment and legal support. The website also has a detailed overview of organizations and initiatives that they can call upon if need be. The information is available in English, Dutch, Ukrainian and Russian. Information on the website is continuously updated on the basis of developments so that Ukrainian refugees can find their way around in the Netherlands easily.

During today’s launch, Her Majesty Queen Maxima participated in a meeting with Chairman of the Haaglanden Security Region, Mr. Jan van Zanen, and the Chairman of the Council for Refugees, Mr. Frank Candel, who gave an overview of the website to the queen.  Thereafter, Her Majesty and the State Secretary for Justice and Security, Mr. Eric van der Burg, met with various refugees and representatives who helped create this important website, how the idea for the site came about and their plans for the future. 

For more information about Refugee Help please visit their official website in the link below:

www.refugeehelp.nl

On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visited Ukrainian refugees in Amsterdam. The Dutch Red Cross and the Municipality of Amsterdam have set up a transfer location/humanitarian service point at the RAI where refugees are received and where help requests from Ukrainians are provided. The Ukrainian refugees are offered a place from the RAI where they can stay for the foreseeable future.

According to RVD, upon her arrival, Queen Maxima spoke with employees of the Dutch Red Cross and the municipality of Amsterdam about starting up the location and about cooperation with other organizations in areas such as transportation and information provision. The role of the Dutch Red Cross, aid in Ukraine and neighboring countries were also discussed during her visit.

Her Majesty also met with various Ukrainian refugees who spoke about the situation in Ukraine, their journey to the Netherlands, and contact with their loved ones who have decided to stay in their homeland. Her Majesty Queen Maxima also spoke with volunteers who told about their efforts to give the refugees a warm welcome and about their experiences at the humanitarian service point at the RAI. 

Her Majesty also participated in a round table discussion with employees of the Dutch Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland, and Takecarebnb, an organization that links refugees to potential host families. 

Please click the link below to view photos from today’s visit: