This is what you must do upon arrival in the Netherlands if you want to apply for asylum

You can apply for asylum at the application centre in the village of Ter Apel. From the moment you have arrived in the Netherlands, you must apply at Ter Apel within 48 hours. Ter Apel is a village in the north of the Netherlands, in the province of Groningen. The address of the application centre is:

Ter Apelervenen 3

9561 MC 

Ter Apel

What happens if you do not report within 48 hours? This may cause your asylum procedure to be less simple. Therefore, make sure you register in Ter Apel as soon as possible.

You can travel to Ter Apel by public transportation. You can get a free ticket for this at a police station. You can also buy a ticket yourself. You first travel by train via Zwolle to Emmen and then take the bus to Ter Apel. You can buy a ticket for the train at the train station. For the bus you can buy a ticket from the bus driver.

Do you not have money for a ticket? Then get a free ticket for 1 day from the police. For this you have to go to a police station. When you arrive at the police station, tell them you are a refugee and want to seek asylum in Ter Apel. Reporting to the police can be scary if you are fleeing. But the Dutch police are there to help you. The police day pass allows you to travel in 2nd class on the train. On the outside of the train it says which compartment is 2nd class.

Please note: If you travel without a ticket, you may be fined. The fine is about €50. You can also get a fine if you sit in 1st class when you only have a 2nd class ticket. On the compartment it says the class where you are allowed to sit with your ticket.

Take the train to Emmen station. From Emmen station, a shuttle bus runs to the application centre in ter Apel for people seeking asylum. The shuttle bus leaves between the station building in Emmen and the Werkplein UWV building. You will need a ticket.

The shuttle bus departs every day at: 9:15 - 10:15 - 11:15 - 15:15 - 16:15 - 17:15 - 20:15 - 21:15 - 22:15.

If this bus not work for you, take bus 73 from Emmen station towards Stadskanaal via Ter Apel. Get off at the Nulweg bus stop. From the Nulweg bus stop, it is a 20-minute walk to the application centre at Ter Apelervenen 3.

You must check in and out on the train or bus using your day ticket.

• On the train, you must check in on the platform. Hold your ticket against the card reader of the gate in front of the platform. This is how you check in and open the gate. You will hear one beeping sound.

• On the bus, you must check in when you board. Hold your card against the card reader near the door. You will hear one beeping sound. This is how you check in.

You have to check out in the same way at the end of your trip. You will hear two beeping sounds. If you don't check in or out, you may be fined. If you cannot manage on your own, ask a member of staff at the station or the bus driver for help.

Upon arrival in Ter Apel, you must register. Read how that works here.