38 people on rubber boat towed to Cadzand after Breskens sighting, two held for smuggling

Boat sighted off Breskens

A rubber boat was seen off Breskens, in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, between 05.30 and 06.00 on Saturday, 31 October. Emergency services were deployed after a report of a suspicious situation, and the first KNRM lifeboats put out to sea around 05.00. A Kustwacht aircraft kept watch on the boat from the air. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee later put the number of people on board at 38, while earlier reports from the scene had said about 30.

“Around 06.00 we received a report of a suspicious situation on the North Sea off Breskens.”

Two arrests and headcount

The Marechaussee said the boat carried 36 migrants and two suspected people smugglers, and the two suspects were arrested. The other occupants are being looked after. Initially the people on board did not want to come ashore, according to police, but the boat was eventually towed to Cadzand and pulled out of the water. Police said it was not yet clear where the group had gone into the water or what their destination was, and an investigation has been opened.

Migrants on board36

Suspected smugglers arrested2

Migrants on board

36 people

Suspected smugglers arrested

2 people

Data from the article text

Reception at Cadzand

At Cadzand harbour, police and the Marechaussee received the people first, with three ambulances and a Red Cross emergency team on standby. The Marechaussee said the group had been at sea for a long time and some may have become hypothermic. Vluchtelingenwerk said that after medical checks, anyone who wants to apply for asylum will probably be taken to Ter Apel to go through the asylum procedure. Nationalities and the origin of the group are still unknown.

Why boat arrivals are rare

Vluchtelingenwerk spokesperson Bart Lauret said arrivals by boat in the Netherlands are exceptional. Most boats with refugees found on the North Sea are trying to cross from northern France to England, and this one may have drifted off course because of weather or currents. Most refugees reach the Netherlands over the European mainland, with a small share arriving at Schiphol.

“If there is immediate danger, the Netherlands has a duty to take these people in. Life-saving takes precedence.”