Utrecht’s Hoog Catharijne Mall to close overnight amid crime, disturbances
The Hoog Catharijne shopping center in Utrecht will begin closing nightly between midnight and 6 a.m. starting Saturday, November 8. According to RTV Utrecht, the measure was prompted by ongoing disturbances, including theft, drug and alcohol use, and fights.
Starting Saturday, people will have to take an outside route via Moreelsepark or Smakkelaarskade instead. Until then, the passage between the city center and the train station remains open 24 hours a day. The mall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., except on Sundays, when it closes at 6 p.m.
The plan, unveiled by the municipality last summer, drew criticism. Some people reportedly said taking the outside route is "less pleasant" and warned that the public disturbances will just move elsewhere.
The closure is a temporary measure set to remain in effect until early 2027. After that, the municipality will decide whether to extend it. “It’s a drastic measure,” a spokesperson for the Utrecht municipality told RTV Utrecht.
Signs have been placed inside Hoog Catharijne to inform visitors and direct them to alternative routes. Security cameras monitor the well-lit paths, according to the municipality.
