ANP: 20 asylum seekers slept outside Ter Apel centre in rain

The Netherlands’ Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) says it urgently needs hundreds of extra places. It warns that a growing number of asylum seekers risk having to wait outside reception in Ter Apel, and that finding immediate shelter for children, women and people with medical needs is becoming harder. [1]

An ANP report says additional Red Cross emergency accommodation for people travelling to Ter Apel is also full. COA attributes the shortage not to a rise in asylum applications, but to people remaining in reception for too long. The report cites lengthy immigration and court procedures and says nearly 18,500 people who have been granted residence permits are waiting for housing from municipalities. [1]

COA’s recently appointed chair, Remco Bakker, has urged municipalities to arrange emergency reception and temporary housing for residence-permit holders quickly. He says they must prevent people from ending up on the street. [1]

Update

Dutch news agency ANP reports that 20 asylum seekers slept on grass in the rain outside the Ter Apel registration centre overnight from Thursday 8 to Friday 9 October 2026 because there was no room for them inside. [2]

The Red Cross and VluchtelingenWerk Nederland called the incident a direct result of a shortage of reception places. They said asylum reception had fallen below a humane minimum, according to ANP. [2]