Asylum seekers surge up 75 percent in Netherlands

There were about 25 thousand first asylum applications in the Netherlands this year. This is 73.6 percent more than in 2013 (14,400 applications). In 2012 there were only 9,710. Despite this increase, the massive influx of asylum seekers that State Secretary Fred Teeven of Justice predicted, failed to materialize. He warned that 65 thousand people could apply for asylum this year. The number of asylum application decreased in the months of October and November. In September there were nearly 3 thousand refugees applying for asylum in the Netherlands. In October there were 2 thousand and in November less than 1,300. Teeven says that the decline is probably connected to the arrival of winter. Fewer people from Africa and Asia attempt to cross the Mediterranean sea. NOS points out that, for 2013, this statement is not true. Last year the number of first asylum application increased in this period - from nearly 1,500 in September to more than 1,550 in October and exactly 1,500 in November.