The Netherlands, explained in English · Wednesday 14 October 2026Wed 14 Oct

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The Netherlands, explained

Ter Apel

Ter Apel is a village in the province of Groningen, in the north-east of the Netherlands, where the country's main registration centre for asylum seekers is located. New asylum seekers are registered and screened there before being moved on to other reception locations. In Dutch news, 'Ter Apel' is often used to mean this registration centre itself, and shortages of space there are a recurring topic.

Stories about Ter Apel