These are your rights and obligations in COA's reception centre

• In the Netherlands, everyone is equal. Discrimination is prohibited. This is stated in Article 1 of the

  Dutch Constitution
  . Even in the reception centre of the
  Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)
  you should not discriminate against anyone. People from different backgrounds should be able to live together safely.

• Aggression or violence against residents or COA employees will be punished. If you are a victim of aggression, violence or sexually harassing behaviour, you can report this to the police.

• In the reception centre, you may practise your religion and have your political opinions, but others should not be bothered by them.

• You must not cause noise pollution. Between 22:00 and 08:00, it must be quiet so that everyone can sleep.

• Taking photos, videos or sound recordings of others without permission is prohibited.

• Visitors are welcome between 08:00 and 22:00. They must check in at the reception desk when they arrive. And sign out there when they leave. You must pick up your visitors at the reception desk and are responsible for them. You can ask for the rules for visitors at the info desk.

• Drugs and alcohol are prohibited in the reception centre. You may not possess, deal or use drugs or alcohol.

• Drunkenness in public is prohibited in the reception centre.

• Weapons are prohibited in the reception centre.

• It is forbidden to wear face-covering clothing in the reception centre, such as a nikab or burka. Even in your own living quarters.

• Your living space in the reception centre is only for you and your fellow residents. You may not let other people live in here.

• You may not change anything about your living space. You may not bring your own furniture. You may not hang your own curtains or wall hangings.

• If you break something, you have to pay the repair costs yourself.

• You must keep your living space clean yourself and leave it clean when you move out. You are not allowed to take items out of the living space.

• All residents are responsible for keeping the common areas and immediate surroundings of the shelter clean.

• You may not have a pet unless you have written permission from the reception centre management.

• You must allow COA employees access to your living space for room checks, maintenance or repairs. COA employees may enter your living space uninvited if there is a threat to safety or public health.

• You may move to another room or another resident may be placed in your living space.

• Some items you can borrow temporarily from COA. For example: plates, cutlery, bedding, towels and things for your baby. Things you have borrowed must be returned undamaged to COA.

• You may not smoke inside the reception centre, including in your own living quarters. Outside, you may only smoke in places where it says you may. You will also find ashtrays there.

• You may only cook on the fixed cookers in the communal kitchens in the reception centre.

• You may not light open fires in the reception centre. So you may not use candles, incense, oil lamps or your own cooking stoves.

• If you use your own electrical equipment, you should ask a COA employee if that equipment is safe.

• You should not cover fire alarms in the reception centre with anything.

• You should not open fire doors. Make sure they can keep folding shut by themselves.

• Escape routes in the reception centre must always be clear. For example, make sure no prams or bicycles are in the way.

• If the fire alarm goes off, you must leave the building immediately and wait outside. Then follow the instructions of COA staff.

• The COA is not responsible for damage to your belongings in the reception centre. Not even if other residents have broken your belongings.

• You are responsible for damage to your room in the reception centre and for COA's belongings that are there. If it is not clear who caused the damage, all occupants of the room must help pay for it.

• You are responsible for your visitors. You have to make sure they follow the house rules. You can ask for the rules for visitors at COA's information desk.

Until your child is 18, you:

• Are responsible for their safety.

• Are responsible for damages they cause. You have to pay for those damages.

• Are responsible for ensuring that they go to school. All children ages 5 to 18 must attend school. Is your child not going to school? Then you can be fined.