Leaked COA Memo Shows Hardenberg Asylum Centre Closure Ranks Fourth on Priority List
Hardenberg, 23 April 2026
A leaked internal memo reveals that closing the Hardenberg asylum reception centre ranks only fourth on the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers’ priority list, contradicting earlier promises to the municipality. The document shows Ter Apel takes top priority, followed by emergency accommodation in Breda and a hotel in Epe. Currently housing 248 residents, Hardenberg was supposed to close by 8 March 2026 under a ten-year agreement. The municipality has imposed daily fines of £55,000 since March, with costs already reaching £1.65 million and potentially exceeding £5 million by June 2026.
Municipal Response and Financial Consequences
The revelation has prompted a sharp response from Hardenberg municipality, which expressed being “ontsteld” (dismayed) at the news [3]. A municipal spokesperson stated that they were unaware of any priority list and maintained that “Het COA heeft ons in eerdere gesprekken beloofd dat de locatie in Hardenberg de hoogste prioriteit heeft” (COA has promised us in earlier conversations that the Hardenberg location has the highest priority) [1]. The municipality imposed the €55,000 daily fine in March 2026 to force closure of the facility [1]. With the current accumulated cost standing at €1,650,000 as of 22 April 2026, the financial pressure continues to mount [1]. Should residents not be relocated, the total costs could exceed €5,000,000, with this threshold expected to be reached in June 2026 [1].
COA’s Competing Priorities Across the Netherlands
According to the leaked memo obtained by RTV Oost through an anonymous source, the COA’s immediate focus centres on reducing overcrowding at Ter Apel to a maximum of 2,000 people [1][2]. The anonymous tipgever stated: “In verband met de overvolle azc’s in Nederland is besloten dat de situatie in Ter Apel eerst naar maximaal 2000 personen moet. Dit is prioriteit nummer één” (Due to the overcrowded asylum centres in the Netherlands, it has been decided that the situation in Ter Apel must first be reduced to a maximum of 2000 people. This is priority number one) [1]. The maximum penalty limit of €5 million for Ter Apel has already been reached [1]. Following Ter Apel, the COA prioritises relocating asylum seekers from emergency accommodation in Breda and a hotel in Epe, placing Hardenberg fourth on the list of “probleem-opvangplekken” (problem reception locations) [1][2].
Current Accommodation Challenges and Systemic Issues
The Hardenberg centre currently houses 248 residents as of 22 April 2026 [1][2]. The facility was originally intended to operate for a maximum of ten years and should have closed by 8 March 2026 under the initial agreement [1]. However, the COA could not meet this deadline due to a nationwide shortage of reception locations [1]. A COA spokesperson responded to the leaked memo by stating: “De passage over het openhouden van Hardenberg in de zomer klopt absoluut niet. We zetten ons met man en macht in om de locatie in Hardenberg zo snel mogelijk leeg te krijgen en de bewoners elders onder te brengen” (The passage about keeping Hardenberg open in the summer is absolutely incorrect. We are working with all our might to empty the location in Hardenberg as quickly as possible and to accommodate the residents elsewhere) [1].
Broader Context of Dutch Asylum System Pressures
The prioritisation dispute reflects broader systemic challenges within the Dutch asylum reception network. Two-thirds of asylum accommodation currently consists of emergency locations, which are characterised as overcrowded, unstable, and temporary [4]. These conditions create what inspections describe as “overprikkeling en een gebrek aan privacy” (overstimulation and a lack of privacy) [4]. The leaked memo reveals the difficult balancing act facing the COA as it attempts to manage capacity across multiple locations while addressing urgent overcrowding situations. When questioned about the prioritisation process, a COA spokesperson confirmed that relocation of asylum seekers to other reception locations is decided “op basis van prioritering” (based on prioritisation) [1], though the agency disputes suggestions that Hardenberg’s closure has been deprioritised.