Marcel Lubbers in the Volkskrant's "cabinet of scientists"

In an article of the Volkskrant, they imagined what a Dutch government made up of scientists would look like. Experts from across disciplines were asked how they would tackle today鈥檚 most pressing societal challenges. Among them was Prof. Dr. Marcel Lubbers, Board Member of the Focus Area Migration and Societal Change. In this 鈥渃abinet of scientists,鈥 he was appointed Minister for Asylum and Migration.

Prof. Dr. Marcel Lubbers

Lubbers emphasized the need for more structural and small-scale refugee reception facilities across the Netherlands, rather than the current cycle of opening and closing centers. While initially more costly, such an approach would, according to him, lead to greater social stability and fewer prolonged asylum procedures.

He also argued for fairer distribution of asylum seekers across neighborhoods, with the more socially conscious communities taking on a greater share of responsibility. At the same time, Lubbers stressed the importance of enforcing departures for applicants of which asylum claims got rejected, with exceptions for those that have already built a life in the Netherlands. Simultaneously, he would focus on investing in language learning, protection against exploitation, and integration support for those who stay.

鈥淎ls minister laat ik me graag leiden door de feiten,鈥 (as minister I would like to lead based on facts) Lubbers noted, underlining his evidence-based approach.

The article portrays how science-based solutions can provide new perspectives for Dutch policy, and highlights Utrecht 木瓜福利影视鈥檚 role in shaping societal debate.