What do the residents of Ter Apel and surrounding areas think about the much-discussed dispersal law, which will be adopted in the Senate on Tuesday? Are they in favor or do they believe it?
Three young people in their twenties walk to their car with their hands full of groceries. It is located in the parking lot of the shopping center in Ter Apel. Do they know the distribution law? “Yes,” mutters a boy who does not want his name in the newspaper. “I don’t know much else about it. That the asylum seekers are not all concentrated here, right?” Maihly (23) is better informed: “That every municipality is obliged to arrange reception for asylum seekers.”
Do they also support the law? “I have no opinion about that,” the boy says hesitantly. Maihly: “Me neither. If only things would calm down a bit here. It works on both sides: firstly, it is not human for asylum seekers to have to sleep in those waiting rooms for so long and secondly, the nuisance here is a bit too much, so something has to be done.”
‘Spread Act good for both Ter Apel and the asylum seekers’
The distribution law. It has been talked about for over a year. The law has already been passed in the House of Representatives. Now it only has to go through the Senate. Until recently, this was not thought possible. The VVD, which had supported it in the House of Representatives, suddenly turned when Yesilgöz took over from Rutte. It was a great surprise when the VVD Senate faction suddenly decided to support the law last week.
In Ter Apel, almost everyone knows about the existence of the law, although some know more about it than others. This also applies to the summary proceedings that Mayor Jaap Velema has initiated against COA. The requirement is that a maximum of 2,000 asylum seekers may be accommodated in Ter Apel. Now sometimes there are more. A ruling on this is also expected on Tuesday.
“The whole of Ter Apel will think that this distribution law should be passed as quickly as possible,” responds Gerrie (68), who is sitting next to her husband in the car. “Not only for us, but also for the people in the registration center. They are taken from here to Stadskanaal, where they can spend the night, shower and eat. They come back the next day. This is especially difficult for families and old people. Look, we’ll be stuck with those safelanders. Nobody wants that.”
‘Now a lot of rubbish is coming here’
Marc Emmens (54) from Nieuw-Weerdinge, who is just walking to the supermarket with an empty case of beer, is less enthusiastic about the law. “I don’t see the benefits of that. The 2,000 who are here now are spread across the country. Then another 2000 will come and it will continue like this. And every time there are 200 problem cases.”
He believes that receiving care in the region is a better idea. From there it must be determined who is allowed to come here and who is not. “I believe that we should accommodate people, but the criteria are too broad. Now too much rubbish is coming here. It’s made too easy.”
He is willing to admit that he voted for the PVV. Not that he agrees with Wilders on everything, “but I don’t agree with the VVD either. It was a protest vote.”
‘It’s still a beautiful village’
Marleen Regts (40) from Nieuw-Weerdinge, who is just putting her groceries in the trunk, is in favor. If we decide to accommodate people in the Netherlands, this will have to be in several places. She also hopes that the judge in the summary proceedings will agree with the mayor. A maximum number of 2,000 asylum seekers in Ter Apel ‘has been called for a long time’. “Let’s see what happens and how quickly. The need is great for many people in the village. As a result, the support for an asylum seekers’ center is of course also a lot less.”
Geertje Tuinstra (76), who also thinks it is ‘real’ that the rest of the Netherlands is taking its share, thinks it is a shame that Ter Apel is receiving such negative press because of all the fuss. “It is still a beautiful village. In the summer the canal here was always full of boats. Now no one comes and it remains quiet. People don’t dare anymore.”