Inside the Dutch prisons that migrants are calling home

The Netherlands has come up with a creative and controversial solution to the influx of migrants

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An Afghan refugee at the former prison of De Koepel in Haarlem, Netherlands.
May 7, 2016: Afghan refugee Shazia Lutfi, 19, peeks around the door of her room at the former prison of De Koepel in Haarlem, Netherlands.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)Associated Press photographer Muhammed Muheisen recently traveled to these former prisons to capture the daily lives of the refugees who are making the most of it.)

April 8, 2016: A migrant plays with a girl at the former prison of Westlingen in Heerhugowaard.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

April 20, 2016: Iraqi refugee Fatima Hussein, 65, prays inside her room at De Koepel.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

May 1, 2016: Afghan refugee Siratullah Hayatullah, 23, does his laundry in De Koepel.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

May 2, 2016: A Dutch volunteer teaches an Afghan refugee how to ride a bicycle at a yard at De Koepel.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

April 6, 2016: Afghan refugee Hamed Karmi, 27, plays keyboard next to his wife Farishta Morahami, 25, inside their room at De Koepel.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

May 10, 2016: Refugees and migrants play soccer at De Koepel.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

April 29, 2016: Syrian refugee Alaa Mohammed, 35, watches TV in his room at De Koepel.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

April 10, 2016: An Afghan refugee holding a child looks out a window in Westlingen.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen))

Julianne McShane
Julianne McShane

Julianne McShane is a student at New York University in the Global Liberal Studies program. She has interned at The Week, The Improper Bostonian, and NBC News. She plans to pursue a career in journalism after graduating.