- December 24, 2025
Due to the expected cold, the third phase of the winter scheme for homeless people comes into effect in Apeldoorn. The municipality is legally obliged to provide this group of homeless people with a place to sleep. As a result, homeless people who sleep and stay outside will be accommodated indoors from Wednesday evening, December 24, at 5 PM. A emergency ordinance also comes into effect that obliges these people to sleep indoors between 9 PM and 7 AM when the perceived temperature is -10 degrees Celsius or lower. During this period, the vacant school building on Blekersweg in Apeldoorn will be set up as an emergency shelter. It is expected that a maximum of 50 people will be temporarily accommodated here. The neighborhood will be informed about this by letter.
The shelter is temporary and intended for the period of persistent extreme cold. Currently, the municipality expects the shelter to run until Saturday, December 27, at 10 AM. If the weather conditions persist, the shelter can be extended until mid-January at the latest. The school on Blekersweg is not used as a permanent shelter location.
The shelter is a measure to protect people from the cold. The implementation is carried out by the Salvation Army. People can sleep and eat at the shelter location. Supervision and guidance are present. It is an emergency shelter location. The shelter is temporary and applies until a time to be announced later by the mayor. Based on the weather forecast, this will probably be until Saturday, December 27, 10 AM. The municipality of Apeldoorn is currently working on an overflow location where homeless people can go from mid-January for the winter scheme.
Winter scheme
The winter scheme provides night shelter for homeless people during the winter months. The winter scheme applies in Apeldoorn from November 2025 to April 2026. When the (perceived) temperature is -10 C, these people are required to sleep indoors. This means that the municipality is legally obliged to arrange night shelter.
Emergency location
Currently, there is a night shelter in Apeldoorn that opens when it is 2 degrees Celsius or colder. That location does not have enough space for all homeless people who sleep outside. Therefore, we had to find an emergency location quickly, which among other things meets safety requirements and offers sufficient space. This location was chosen, among other reasons, because it can be quickly set up as an emergency shelter.
Use of emergency location
Until mid-January, the location can be used as an emergency shelter in exceptional weather conditions. The municipality is currently working on a location that can be used after mid-January until the end of this winter. For that, a location other than the school on Blekersweg will be used. We aim to have clarity about this early January.
Emergency ordinance
View the emergency ordinance on official publications.