Leopoldsburg Asylum Center Closes Permanently After 11 Years

After 11 years, the asylum center in Leopoldsburg has closed permanently. The keys to Kwartier Moorslede were handed back to Mayor Marleen Kauffmann during a final tour of the buildings.

Sabine Willen, the center’s manager, described the cooperation with the municipality as constructive. “We had good cooperation,” she said. “We discussed things extensively, and that always happened in a constructive way. We accommodated more than 4,000 people and witnessed 66 births.”

“

We had good cooperation. We discussed things extensively, and that always happened in a constructive way. We accommodated more than 4,000 people and witnessed 66 births.

Kauffmann said the closure brought mixed emotions. She remembered the first residents who arrived in 2015 and said children attended school, adults took Dutch lessons, and many asylum seekers found work and continued living nearby.

“

It gives a mixed feeling. We always worked well together.

The center also produced personal stories of integration. Qadir, the first asylum seeker to arrive in Leopoldsburg, became the subject of the book *De knikkers van Qadir* after forming a bond with his buddy, writer Leo Bormans. Another former resident, Nadia from Rwanda, became a bookkeeper, while her husband joined the military in Leopoldsburg and their children played football locally.

Kauffmann also said local opposition to the center had to be heard. “There were certainly many beautiful aspects to the asylum center, but as mayor I also have to listen to what is happening in our community,” she said. “As a municipality, we certainly did our part.”

“

There were certainly many beautiful aspects to the asylum center, but as mayor I also have to listen to what is happening in our community. As a municipality, we certainly did our part.