'Mijn werk is altijd aan verandering onderhevig'

The Dublin team of the IND determines whether the Netherlands is responsible for processing an asylum application or whether another European country has to do this based on the Dublin Regulation, for example because someone has previously applied for asylum there. As a senior member of interview and decision staff, Jan-Jouke assesses this kind of asylum cases and is also responsible for coordinating activities within his team. 

Scope for tailoring

‘I remember two lovers who had lost each other on their way to Europe. The couple was not formally recognised as a family,’ Jan-Jouke answers to the question which moment in his work he remembers most. ‘The pregnant woman had arrived in the Netherlands, but her husband had ended up in Croatia. This means that according to the standard procedure, he would have to submit his asylum application there. Unfortunately, their baby was born still in the Netherlands. Because both parents were in deep mourning for the loss of their child, we decided not to send the man back to Croatia so that the couple could go through the mourning process together in the Netherlands.’

Jan-Jouke brings up this example to indicate that despite strict legislation for Dublin cases, there is also some scope for humanity and tailoring. ‘In my job, I often don’t have any contact with the asylum seekers themselves. This sometimes makes assessing rather abstract. Yet, I still remain responsible for carefully assessing whether someone has to go to another country. And these are the kind of moments I remember because they show that our work goes beyond the mere application of rules. Here, my assessment makes a vital difference.’

Contributing to Dutch targets

Jan-Jouke’s work as a senior member of the interview and decision staff goes beyond the assessment of Dublin cases. ‘In fact, I’m the link between the shop floor and the manager,’ he tells. ‘I help colleagues to do their work well, run projects, and coach my team members. In addition, I must also ensure that the work is done well, even if unexpected things happen, such as a colleague becoming sick for a longer period.’

Cooperation as the key

‘Eventually, it mostly comes down to being able to work together well,’ he adds. ‘And that is what I enjoy the most. I worked on the organisation of the Dublin day, among other things, an initiative for colleagues from different locations to come together to share knowledge and better get to know each other. We then engaged in a dialogue with the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee about how transfers could be carried out better, for example. This makes us stronger as a team.’

Contributing to something greater

By now, Jan-Jouke has been working at the IND for eight years. He studied international relations and had always had a strong interest in law and politics. ‘With the IND, I am given the opportunity to work in a field where various legal, political and humanitarian issues coincide. The pressure from other countries and the reasons why people flee influence my work. This makes it a dynamic work field that is always subject to change. As a result, my work is under scrutiny, but it is also always relevant. And I think that’s a challenge: I like the stir. It always gives me the sense that I am contributing to something greater. My team contributes to the political targets around migration in the Netherlands and helps the Dutch asylum system to function efficiently.’ 

Finding a balance

‘People sometimes think that we are either too strict, or too lenient,’ Jan-Jouke continues. ‘But there is so much more to our work. Each day, we work on legal and human issues and this must be done carefully. Working for the IND is more than numbers and procedures. It is a work field where you have to find a balance between legislation, politics and humanity each day. And all that while the whole country is looking over your shoulder. It would be great if there was a little more understanding for this complexity.’