Sports hall Heiloo prepared for 175 asylum seekers: “The need is high”

“The situation in Ter Apel is dire, the need is high,” said mayor Mascha ten Bruggencate. That is why Heiloo offers shelter to 175 asylum seekers from Ter Apel. The first guests are expected early next week. When exactly and in what composition is not yet known.

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Hikmet Kusakci, owner of Healthcenter Vennewater, tells NH Nieuws that he “understands very well that a solution was needed in the short term for the degrading situation in Ter Apel”: “It is nice of the municipality that it is doing its bit and that this reception.”

The mayor informed him personally that the asylum seekers will be accommodated in the building where his company is located. “I really appreciate that,” he says. “I assume that it will not affect my company and that the municipality will take good measures to allow my members to exercise,” said Hikmet. He will make agreements about this with the municipality.

Sports clubs do not expect any inconvenience

Sports associations indicate that the reception of asylum seekers does not hinder their activities. “We don’t give lessons because of the summer holidays,” says Arie Swaan of Volleyball Association Effect. “At most, we’ll have to get some stuff every now and then for some outdoor activities.” He expects this to apply to most sports clubs.

Sybren van Dokkum of Tennis Association Het Vennewater also says that they will not experience any nuisance because of the no competitions are held and is pleased that Heiloo has committed to ‘do its part’. The association is also going to see if it can offer tennis lessons to the refugees: “We hope to make the time they stay here as pleasant as possible for them”, says Sybren.

Provide meals

Sports café Het Vennewater will provide food for the new guests in Heiloo three times a day, says owner Walter van Westbroek. “In the coming weeks we will be closely involved in the reception. We have been instructed by the North Holland North Safety Region to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for the 175 asylum seekers.”

This has little influence on the normal activities of the café: “In the summer there is little sport. However, in consultation we will move a few planned parties to our location in Akersloot or Limmen.” He indicates that he prefers not to organize parties ‘a few meters from the people we receive’.

He “expects people to understand that.” It is not yet clear what the meals will look like. “We are now discussing this. For example, we may make the meals halal, but we have to see that for a while.”