A Dutch municipality will fine the national refugee agency up to €11.4 million for refusing to shut an asylum centre housed in a local hotel, in a sharp escalation of the country’s migration standoff.
The council in Epe will fine the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers €63,480 per day from April 22 if it fails to close the emergency reception site, which has been operating beyond its agreed срок.
The agency has accommodated 276 asylum seekers at the Fletcher hotel since March 2024. While the municipality agreed to a temporary extension, the permit expired on March 20, and local officials insist the arrangement must now end.
Mayor Tom Horn said the council understood pressure on the asylum system but was obliged to enforce agreements with residents and businesses. Local hospitality leaders have also called for the hotel’s return ahead of the busy summer season, warning of lost tourism revenue in a popular holiday area.
The dispute reflects a wider national strain. The Netherlands faces a shortfall of tens of thousands of asylum beds, with only around 40% of municipalities meeting their legal quotas under the dispersal system.
Similar enforcement actions have been taken elsewhere, with COA already paying millions in penalties, including €5 million to Westerwolde. The agency argues fines will not resolve the crisis, warning it cannot evict residents without alternative accommodation.
