Norway opens prison in the Netherlands

– I am proud that we have been able to establish 242 prison places in a very short time. Larger prison capacity is important to reduse the prison queues Norway has struggled with for years, says the Minister.

To avoid inhumane overcrowding in Norwegian prisons, convicted persons normally have to wait to be called in to commence serving the sentence. An offender who has not started his sentence within two months of it becoming legally binding is regarded as being in the queue. Those convicted of more serious crimes and certain other groups will be imprisoned immediately. 

From 1 September 2015, Norway will rent prison places in Norgerhaven for a period of three years. Norway’s agreement with the Netherlands to rent Norgerhaven Prison was signed 2 March 2015. The prison will be a unit of Ullersmo Prison in Norway, with Norwegian management and Dutch prison officers. 

The prison will be filled with sentenced persons during the coming weeks. So far 112 transfers are decided. 79 of these are voluntary. 

Information from the Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service:
Serving a sentence in Norgerhaven Prison in the Netherlands (pdf)