Abandoned Dutch prisons are being used to house refugees — here's what they're like inside

Tens of thousands of refugees from all over the Middle East — including countries like Syria, Iraq, Morocco, and Libya — have found an unlikely haven in the Netherlands.

Crime there has been declining for the last decade, and 19 of nearly 60 prisons have closed in the last three years. Others have taken in inmates from Belgium or Norway.

Now the Dutch government agency responsible for securing housing for asylum seekers has opened prisons in 12 locations around the country to refugees. As the AP reports, the spaces are currently serving hundreds of people in need.

At one such facility, De Koepel, the open space and array of amenities make the prison uniquely suited to serve as a temporary home. Here's what life is like on the inside.

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In 2015, the Netherlands saw approximately 60,000 migrants enter the country. While most were given traditional shelter, the Dutch government called on its prison system to offer its vacant facilities.

Source: The New York Times

In Haarlem, De Koepel features layers of cells on the perimeters of a main courtyard. The cells are tight, but can accommodate families of three or four with bunk beds.

Female refugees are given the option to stay in the all-women section of the prison.