Rescue workers at the scene where 38 were rescued from a rubber boat off the coast off Cadzand. October 31, 2026.- Credit: provicom / ANP - License: All Rights Reserved

Those rescued from rubber boat off Dutch coast were 36 Afghans; 2 arrested are Sudanese

Out of the 38 people rescued from the rubber boat with no motor off the coast of Cadzand in Zeeland, 36 are from Afghanistan. Two that were arrested on suspicion of human smuggling on Saturday are from Sudan. They are all men.

The 36 Afghans are being held in temporary custody at the Brabant-Oost facility of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee in Hoogerheide. In the meantime, authorities are busy verifying the men’s identities and determining whether they intend to apply for asylum.

The vessel, which had lost its engine and was adrift, was towed to Cadzand, where the migrants were taken ashore. The spokesperson declined to give a comment to ANP if they know where the boat came from and where it was heading. It was previously mentioned that the boat that the group arrived on is a Zodiac, which is a type of rubber boat frequently used to transport migrants.

The Marechaussee is leading the operation. It is joined by KNRM (Royal Dutch Rescue Society) and the Coast Guard, Zeeland’s safety region said on Saturday.