Due to the high influx of asylum seekers yesterday, the number of people staying in Ter Apel is 2.032. So, despite all efforts, it has not been possible to comply with the court decision to reduce the number to less than 2.000 people.
The pressure on Dutch asylum reception facilities is reaching a critical point now that it appears that more than half of the current asylum reception locations are in danger of closing down by the end of this year. According to recent figures, requested by newspaper Trouw at the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), 180 of the 326 asylum reception locations are about to close their doors due to the expiration of contracts. This not only applies to regular reception centers but especially to emergency locations such as vacant buildings, sports halls, ships and tents, which together account for approximately 24.000 of the 65.000 available reception places.
This development presents COA and the Dutch government with a significant challenge. As the demand for shelters increases, there is an ambitious plan to expand the number of shelters to 96.000 in the next year. The recently introduced Distribution Act, which obliges municipalities to contribute to the realization of asylum reception, plays a crucial role in this effort. However, the implementation of this law and the realization of the necessary shelter places is expected to take until mid-2025.
The situation in Ter Apel, where a judicial ultimatum limits reception capacity to a maximum of two thousand foreigners, underlines the urgency of the situation. Capacity has been exceeded and a daily influx of one hundred to two hundred asylum seekers is the situation WITH THE under great pressure to meet legal requirements. The consequences are severe: a penalty of 15.000 euros per day that the limit is exceeded, with a maximum of 1,5 million euros.
In response, Milo Schoenmaker, chairman of the COA, emphasizes the complexity of the situation and the need for sustainable solutions. “We are working hard to comply with the judge's ruling and improve the situation in Ter Apel. There are no simple solutions to the challenges we face, and the shelter shortage remains an ongoing concern,” says Schoenmaker.
The call from outgoing State Secretary Eric van der Burg to provinces to create shelters or keep existing emergency shelters open has so far not yielded any responses. This underlines the complexity of the issue and the need for a coordinated approach at both local and national level.
This situation requires an immediate and coordinated response from all parties involved. Finding a balance between respecting international obligations and ensuring the safety and well-being of both asylum seekers and local communities is a challenge that requires a shared commitment. The coming period will determine whether the Netherlands is able to continue to guarantee humane and fair reception of asylum seekers.
