Noodopvang Assen (De Haar)
Assen's former exhibition hall at the TT Circuit (the "Expo Hal", at De Haar) served as one of the Netherlands' largest emergency asylum shelters from November 2021, housing up to roughly 500 people who could not be registered at the overstretched Ter Apel centre. In October 2024 a GGD public-health doctor went public with an emergency letter warning that young children at the site were malnourished, frightened and living in unsanitary, noisy conditions, with families staying far longer than the intended few days. After sustained criticism the COA rebuilt the interior in 2025 with soundproof sleeping compartments, separate family and women's areas, a play area and improved catering. The shelter was wound down and the last asylum seekers left at the end of January 2026.
Occupancy
433
people (Aug 2025)
Per night
€184
per person (benchmark)
Annual
€29m
estimated
Background
The site sits at De Haar, Assen. It is run by the COA (Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers), the Dutch government’s asylum-reception agency. For what the azc / noodopvang categories mean and how Dutch reception spending breaks down, open the cost panel on the interactive map with the Netherlands selected in Settings.
In the news
Oct 2024
GGD doctor sounds alarm: asylum children at Assen shelter are malnourished and scared
An RTV Noord report reveals a GGD physician's July 2024 emergency letter warning that children at the Expo Hal were underweight, sleep-deprived and frightened, and advising against housing families there.
RTV Noord · source
Apr 2025
From noisy hall to quiet rooms: Assen emergency shelter overhauled after criticism
RTV Drenthe reports the COA fitted soundproof compartments, separate areas for women and families, a children's play area and a new caterer in response to complaints about conditions.
RTV Drenthe · source
Jan 2026
Last asylum seekers have left Assen's Expo Hal
RTV Drenthe reports the final residents departed the TT Circuit exhibition hall, ending more than four years of emergency reception at the site.
RTV Drenthe · source
Compiled from public Dutch news reports (each item links to its source). Where a municipality runs more than one reception location, attribution to this specific address reflects the cited report and may be approximate — always check the linked source.
Timeline
Nov 2021
Expo Hal opens as emergency shelter
COA begins housing asylum seekers in the former exhibition hall at the TT Circuit; capacity up to ~500.
Oct 2024
GGD doctor warns over children
Public-health doctor's emergency letter reports malnourished, frightened children and poor conditions.
Apr 2025
Shelter rebuilt after criticism
Soundproof compartments, separate family/women's sections, play area and new catering installed.
Jan 2026
Last residents leave
Site emptied as residents are placed elsewhere; emergency shelter closed.
Cost
Dutch asylum reception is funded by central government through the COA. At an illustrative benchmark of about €184 per person per night for emergency reception (noodopvang), the 433 people recorded here on 13 August 2025 imply roughly €29m per year. This is an order-of-magnitude figure for context only, not a site-specific invoice — emergency reception typically runs around three times the cost of a regular centre.
Sources
COA / Rijksoverheid (Kamerstuk, 5 Sep 2025) · 2025-08-13. View source
Occupancy is the COA register snapshot of 13 August 2025 and may have changed since. Coordinates were geocoded from the published street address via the official PDOK Locatieserver.