Residents demand action as rat infestation overwhelms Schiedam’s De Gorzen

Residents of De Gorzen are calling for urgent intervention after a surge in rat infestations, with some households reporting dozens of rodents inside their homes. Locals are demanding a permanent rat catcher to control the growing problem, which has spread from nearby parks into residential areas.

Anja van Bekhoven, who has long raised concerns about the rat issue in De Gorzen, said the rodents migrate from the Maasboulevard. “Rats that survive the winter there move into De Gorzen,” she said. “They run over the park dike, where food is available, and then head back toward the houses.” One resident, who wished to remain anonymous out of embarrassment, claimed to have caught 43 rats inside her home.

Another local, who chose to share her experience, described how rats scurry across her ceiling at night. “My daughter is terrified,” she said. Initially, traps were used to control the problem, but as the infestation worsened, residents resorted to a "rat hotel"—a container with bait that drowns the rodents in oil within seconds.

The full extent of the infestation became clear when the rat hotel was introduced. “Within eight hours, it caught 11 rats,” said Chantal, a resident considering moving due to the persistent nuisance. She provided video footage showing Irado pest control workers removing dripping, lifeless rodents from the container with tongs and placing them on the street.

Many residents find the extermination method disturbing and want a more structured solution. “This isn't working,” Chantal said. Van Bekhoven stressed the need for professional intervention: “The nests need to be cleared. A single shot, and they’re gone—no suffering. Something must be done.”