The former Isala hospital in Meppel will continue to be used as a shelter for Ukrainian refugees for the next three years. At the beginning of this month, the building fell into the hands of a new owner, the Lenferink Group. The municipality has made an agreement with this real estate company that it will continue to rent the building for at least three years.
The old hospital currently houses 455 refugees from Ukraine. The municipality is still in discussions with Lenferink Group about expanding the shelter. “Since Drenthe has not yet created sufficient reception places for Ukrainians before 2025, we are in discussions with the Lenferink Group to investigate whether there are possibilities to rent a number of additional spaces,” the municipality writes. This not only concerns expanding the number of places, but also a space that can be designed as a meeting place. “We notice that there is a need for a place where people can meet and organize activities.”
The Lenferink Group from Zwolle also owns the Expo in Assen, where refugees are accommodated, but also the Sprookjeshof play park in Zuidlaren and the football stadium where PEC Zwolle plays.
Since 2022, refugees have been received in the old hospital in Meppel. Since that same year, Isala has been using the current, new hospital opposite.