Overcrowding Persists at Ter Apel Asylum Center Despite Biddinghuizen Expansion
The asylum seeker reception center in Ter Apel is currently overcrowded, housing 2,048 people, far exceeding its official limit. This comes as the large temporary site in Biddinghuizen nears capacity, with around 1,200 places filled, leading to renewed overcrowding in Ter Apel.
The municipality of Westerwolde has imposed a €50,000 fine on the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) for this violation, adding to the total fines which now stand at €1.3 million. The COA opened the large temporary reception site in Biddinghuizen on 3rd November 2025, aiming to ease the pressure on other facilities. However, with Biddinghuizen nearly full, over 300 additional asylum seekers have been taken in at Ter Apel. The COA will continue to face daily fines until the number of asylum seekers in Ter Apel falls below the permitted threshold.
The overcrowding in Ter Apel persists despite the opening of the temporary site in Biddinghuizen. The COA faces ongoing fines until the situation improves. The municipality and the COA are working to find a solution to accommodate the increasing number of asylum seekers.
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