Last night, 1,935 people stayed at the registration center in Ter Apel, reports the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). This is the first day since Thursday that the number of asylum seekers has remained below 2,000.
Since Thursday, the COA has been required to adhere to the maximum number of 2,000 asylum seekers. That was determined by the judge in January. If more than 2,000 asylum seekers stay in Ter Apel, the reception agency must pay a penalty of 15,000 euros per day to the municipality of Westerwolde.
On Thursday and Friday, COA was unable to stay below the maximum number. Due to Storm Louis it was not safe to set up a tent in 2e Exloërmond, where around 200 asylum seekers can stay.