The Netherlands is considering using Kenya as a location for so-called “return hubs” where rejected asylum seekers could stay before being sent back to their home countries.
According to reports, Rwanda and Benin are also being considered as possible options.
The discussions are currently taking place between Dutch diplomats and officials from the possible partner countries. The government has not confirmed which countries are involved, saying the talks remain confidential.
A return hub is a facility outside the European Union where people whose asylum applications have been rejected can wait before returning to their country of origin.
The Netherlands is exploring the plan together with Germany, Austria, Denmark and Greece as part of wider European efforts to manage migration.
Kenya is reportedly seen as the strongest option because of its relative stability and economic position. Concerns about human rights in Rwanda have made it a less preferred choice, while discussions with Benin have not yet started.
European documents have also mentioned Uzbekistan and Ghana as possible countries, although it remains unclear whether formal discussions have taken place.
The government hopes to make a final decision before the end of the year.
The latest discussions mark a shift away from Uganda. The previous Dutch government agreed in September 2025 to create a transit centre there for rejected asylum seekers, but those talks were later paused after political instability in Uganda.
Return hubs are one of the most debated parts of the European Union’s migration reforms, most of which became law on June 12.
The European Commission’s original proposal stated that only people with final deportation orders could be sent to such centres and that families with children would not be transferred.
However, the Dutch government has publicly opposed this restriction.
Rwanda has also been linked to similar plans before. The United Kingdom selected Rwanda for its offshore asylum scheme, but the plan was cancelled in 2024 after legal challenges.
