Ter Apel asylum center exceeds 2,000 people; Dutch reception agency hit with record fine

More than 2,000 asylum seekers slept at the registration center in Ter Apel, Groningen, last night. As a result, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) must, for the first time, pay a fine of 50,000 euros. Previous fines had been lower.

According to the COA, 2,034 people slept at the registration center. This exceeds the number the agency had agreed upon with the municipality of Westerwolde, where Ter Apel is located. The fine will therefore be paid to the municipality for each day that more than 2,000 people stay at the center. A spokesperson did not give a forecast for the coming days. “We assess the situation day by day, looking at where space is available and whether more capacity can be added somewhere.”

This is the first time since November 1 of last year that the number of people sleeping at Ter Apel exceeded the allowed capacity. The COA described it as “an undesirable situation for residents, staff, and local residents, because it hinders dignified and safe reception and support.”

The rise in the number of asylum seekers above 2,000 is, according to the agency, due to the closure of several temporary locations. In addition, municipalities are not accommodating enough status holders, which are refugees who have been granted permission to stay in the Netherlands. Their spots in the reception centers therefore do not become available for new asylum seekers.

This results in “insufficient space to place people registering in Ter Apel at another reception location.” According to the COA, more asylum seekers typically arrive in the Netherlands during the summer than in spring or autumn, which adds to the “cumulative effect,” the spokesperson said.

COA chair Milo Schoenmaker is asking municipalities to keep reception locations that are closing open for longer. He also wants them to accommodate more status holders.

In July, the COA asked eight provinces to find a total of 2,600 emergency reception spots. The agency was unsure whether enough beds would still be available at the end of July. The call resulted in 800 places being offered. “Unfortunately, that is insufficient,” the COA said.

In October, the festival grounds in Biddinghuizen will likely once again be prepared to host around 1,250 asylum seekers, as in the past three winters. The municipal executive of Dronten still needs to give its approval, but is positive about the experiences of previous years, a spokesperson said.

Last year, construction began in early October, the location opened in mid-November, and the shelter closed in March ahead of the festival season.