Terneuzen council approves asylum seeker center permit

The Terneuzen municipal council has approved a permit for an asylum seeker center located in a former Neckermann building. The decision followed an extensive debate and was narrowly passed with support from several opposition parties.

The current municipal college modified the original proposal to address concerns regarding social safety. Additionally, an amendment was passed to facilitate the integration of future residents into society through education and employment.

Opposition from parties such as the PVV, Hart voor Terneuzen, and Sociaal Terneuzen centered on potential impacts to social safety, traffic, and local livability. Alderman Robert-Jan Calon (CDA) defended the plan, noting that the center aims to house approximately 200 people, primarily families, within a population of 56,000. He cited the successful operation of current emergency housing in the city as a precedent.