Current situation in Ter Apel and implementation of measures to transfer asylum permit holders to temporary accommodation

The situation in the application and reception centre in Ter Apel is still untenable. Almost every day, it accommodates more people than it is intended for. Hence the reason why, on 17 June, the government launched the national crisis management structure. Over the last few weeks, much work has been done by the security regions and municipalities, and by all the partners in the migration chain, to create additional emergency reception centres so as many people as possible can be offered shelter. This has reduced the pressure on Ter Apel in the short term.

The situation in the application and reception centre in Ter Apel is still untenable. Almost every day, it accommodates more people than it is intended for. Hence the reason why, on 17 June, the government launched the national crisis management structure. Over the last few weeks, much work has been done by the security regions and municipalities, and by all the partners in the migration chain, to create additional emergency reception centres so as many people as possible can be offered shelter. This has reduced the pressure on Ter Apel in the short term.

Emergency reception centres

The security regions are working hard to ramp up the number of emergency reception centres by 1 October 2022. Spaces are being added on a daily basis. So far, more than 4,100 of the total number of 5,625 spaces agreed have been created, so 75% of the number of spaces to be created. This ensures that, in the short term, a sufficient number of reception spaces is available in Ter Apel, but it also means that this capacity is now already almost fully utilised. Once this additional capacity is fully utilised, the pressure on Ter Apel will increase again if another large-scale reception does not become available.

Temporary large-scale reception facilities

In order to reduce the pressure on Ter Apel without delay, the government is investing in alternative large-scale facilities in three ways.

In the first instance, it is looking for a location where all or part of the identification and registration process can be carried out and where a large number of asylum seekers can be received as well. It is looking in particular at government-owned locations.

In the meantime, the government has rented two cruise ships to receive asylum seekers. The idea is that the ships will be moored on the quay. An option has been taken on a third cruise ship. The option of anchoring ships in open water is currently not being investigated further. The first ship is due to be brought into use in the Municipality of Velsen on 1 September 2022. Talks are under way with a number of municipalities regarding the mooring of the second ship. This ship will be available as a reception facility from 1 October 2022.

Other COA locations

Over the next two weeks, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) will open reception facilities for asylum seekers in The Hague (400 spaces), Delft (260 spaces) and Voorschoten (120 spaces) and expand a number of existing reception facilities. The COA is also exploring the possibility of purchasing property, which would involve a change of use of the premises. The idea is to create as many reception spaces as possible.

Accelerated transfer of 7,500 asylum permit holders

The creation of additional reception spaces, through the temporary large-scale facility and the emergency reception centres, for example, is not enough to relieve the pressure on Ter Apel in both the short and the long term. The measure designed to accelerate the transfer of 7,500 asylum permit holders to interim facilities or temporary accommodation, for example, might offer a solution. Unfortunately, according to national statistics, this acceleration is still not working effectively enough. Together with the security regions and other partners, consideration is being given as to how this acceleration can be improved. In order to ensure that municipalities continue to receive support, the Hotel and Accommodation Regulation (Hotel- en Accommodatieregeling) is being extended until 31 December 2022.