Once again, around 100 asylum seekers were forced to sleep on chairs in a waiting room at the Ter Apel reception centre in Groningen, settlement agency COA has confirmed.

The problems have been caused by the closure of several temporary locations where asylum seekers were moved to once their initial applications had been registered. The COA expects the shortage of beds to continue in the coming days.

In addition, the 600 extra emergency beds which the 25 regional safety boards are organizing in turns are also now full.

Safety board chiefs on Tuesday agreed that the scheme may be expanded to include more regions. Currently four regions are being asked to each set up 150 beds for a 12 week period.

One reason for the overcrowding in refugee centres is the lack of suitable accommodation for people who have been given residency permits.

The refugee agency is currently providing beds for some 40,000 people, but nearly 14,000 of them should have moved into regular housing.