Overview
- COA reported 1,966 people stayed overnight, marking the first dip below the cap since early November.
- Occupancy had exceeded 2,000 continuously since November 4, with several peaks above 2,100.
- Accumulated penalties since early September stand at about €2.1 million, with a €5 million cap possibly reached in the second half of January if breaches resume.
- Transfers from Ter Apel to other reception sites continue as new arrivals come in, leaving conditions tight despite the temporary relief.
- COA leadership is shifting as chairman Milo Schoenmaker departs at year‑end and Joeri Kapteijns steps in as interim, with negotiations shaped by a 2012 agreement repeatedly upheld in court.