Justice ministry inspectors have told immigration minister Marjolein Faber she needs to come up with a permanent solution for the overcrowding at the refugee registration centre in Ter Apel.

The right-wing cabinet’s plans to withdraw legislation to ensure refugees are spread more fairly around the country has made it even more imperative that the problem is solved, the inspectors say in a new report.

The situation continued to be acute in 2024, even though fewer refugees came to the Netherlands than forecast, the report points out.

The letter to the minister calls on her to take steps that will allow the refugee settlement agency COA to sort out the problems. In particular, the flow of refugees to other centres needs improving and there need to be more alternatives, the inspectors say.

Emergency accommodation has now become part of the regular provision and some people are forced to stay in Ter Apel for up to six months – even though the registration process should take just 10 days.

And the permanent use of other locations at night is leading to unsafe situations for both staff and asylum seekers, the inspectors say.

“Long-term stays in locations which do not have the provisions is having an impact on the mental and physical welfare of residents,” the letter says. “And the most vulnerable among them are suffering.”

Ter Apel is licenced for 2,000 residents but is often overcrowded. In addition, other locations where refugees wait to be processed at Ter Apel are taking up to 700 people, many of whom are in Ter Apel itself during the day.

The inspectors say that given their concerns about the safety issues at Ter Apel and the waiting centres, they will continue to keep a close eye on what happens.