Epe municipality threatens fines for illegal asylum shelter at Fletcher Hotel
The municipality of Epe is taking action against the continued use of Fletcher Hotel as an emergency shelter for asylum seekers, despite an expired permit. Daily fines of up to €63,480 for COA and €17,250 for the hotel could be imposed if the situation persists, affecting local residents and businesses.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Fletcher Hotel, Dellenweg 115, Epe |
| Organizations Involved | COA, Fletcher Hotel |
| Permit Expiry Date | March 20, 2026 |
| Inspection Date | March 21, 2026 |
| Daily Fine for COA | €63,480 (max €11,426,400) |
| Daily Fine for Fletcher | €17,250 (max €3,105,000) |
| Response Deadline | One week from March 23, 2026 |
| Municipality’s Stance | No extension of temporary environmental permit |
The municipality of Epe is responsible for enforcing local environmental permits and ensuring compliance with regulations. In this case, it is acting to uphold its commitment to residents and businesses by addressing the unauthorized use of the Fletcher Hotel for asylum shelter purposes.
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Intention to impose penalty under administrative enforcement against COA and Fletcher for continuing emergency shelter
The municipality of Epe intends to take enforcement action against the use of the Fletcher Hotel on Dellenweg 115 in Epe for the emergency shelter of asylum seekers. The temporary environmental permit for this use expired on March 20, 2026, and will not be extended. However, an inspection on March 21, 2026, revealed that the hotel is still being used to accommodate asylum seekers.
Therefore, the municipal executive (college van burgemeester en wethouders) intends to impose a penalty under administrative enforcement against both COA and the Fletcher Hotel. This intention has been communicated today in a letter to both organizations.
Why a penalty under administrative enforcement?
The purpose of the penalty under administrative enforcement is to compel the parties involved—COA and the Fletcher Hotel—to comply with the regulations and restore the hotel’s original tourist function. This is important to us because we want to keep our promise to local residents, inhabitants, and entrepreneurs. The municipality remains in dialogue with both parties to ensure a careful resolution of the situation.
What this intention means in concrete terms
- The municipality wants to oblige COA and the Fletcher Hotel to terminate and maintain the termination of the use of the Fletcher Hotel for the emergency shelter of asylum seekers.
- If the use is not terminated in time, the municipality intends to impose a daily penalty. This has been communicated today to both COA and the Fletcher Hotel. They each have one week to respond to the municipality’s letter.
- The amount of the penalty for COA is €63,480 per day, with a maximum of €11,426,400.
- The amount of the penalty for the Fletcher Hotel is €17,250 per day, with a maximum of €3,105,000.
- The municipality is not willing to grant another temporary environmental permit for this emergency shelter.