There are once again more asylum seekers than allowed in the registration center in Ter Apel. The number remained below the limit for a week and a half, thanks to the opening of a large temporary shelter in Biddinghuizen. But it is almost full and can therefore not accommodate many more people.
Last night, 2,048 people slept in the registration center, while 2,000 is the maximum. This means that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers must again pay a penalty of 50,000 euros to the municipality of Westerwolde. The total amount is now 1.3 million euros.
Biddinghuizen has room for approximately 1,200 asylum seekers. After its opening, the number of people in Ter Apel dropped from almost 2,100 to just over 1,700 in a few days. Since then, more than 300 more people have been admitted to Ter Apel than were transferred.