Belgium has six closed centres with a capacity of 635 places. In March 2022, the government, on a proposal from the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, approved the creation of 3 new closed centres in Zandvliet, Jabbeke and Jumet, as well as a departure centre in Steenokkerzeel. With the construction of the new centres, the objective was to achieve a capacity of 1.145 places in closed centres.

The Council of Ministers has now approved the public procurement for the following two projects:

• the design, construction and maintenance of a closed centre in Jabbeke, replacing the existing closed centre in Bruges. This new centre will have 112 places.
   
• the construction and maintenance of a closed centre in Jumet. The project will make it possible to accommodate 180 residents (with an additional 20 buffer places).

The realisation of the new centres is monitored by the infrastructure return plan working group, with representatives from the Immigration Office, the Buildings Agency, and the respective supervisory ministers. Since last year, Nicole de Moor has also been funding, through her department, five architects at the Buildings Agency to expedite construction.

For further details, please read the press release from the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration (in Dutch) as well as the press release from the Council of Ministers (in French or in Dutch).