door Recently, there has been considerable debate in the Netherlands about whether or not to declare an asylum crisis and, in connection with that, to introduce an Asylum Emergency Act. Article 103 of the Constitution outlines the procedures and powers related to states of emergency, during which the legal order may be temporarily adjusted. In times of crisis, an Emergency Act could come into force, side lining Parliament and granting decision-making powers to the government.
The Asylum Emergency Act was not enacted, as it became clear it would not withstand judicial scrutiny, given that there was, and still is, no actual asylum crisis.
In the Netherlands, emergency laws are rare. They are typically associated with times of war, national disasters (such as floods ‘watersnood’, 1953), and the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was also an Emergency Forestry Act, as evidenced by the envelope depicted here. In 1899, the State Forestry Service (Staatsbosbeheer) was established to develop uncultivated lands, promote forestry, and combat sand drifts.
To ensure a regular supply of timber, a commission was set up in 1910 to deliberate on necessary measures. This led to the drafting of a Forestry Act in 1913. However, the Act was never enacted, likely due to the outbreak of the First World War. In 1917, the government deemed immediate intervention necessary, and the Emergency Forestry Act was introduced.
This was replaced in 1922 when the draft Forestry Act was finally enacted. In 1961, it was replaced by the Forest Act.
