Vandalism at Dutch stations drops, but costs still exceed 3 million euros
ProRail has reported a decrease in the number of vandalism incidents in Dutch train and bus stations. The number of reports has dropped from 4,600 in 2024 to 3,600 in 2025. Even with the decrease, annual damages still exceed 3 million euros.
From January 2024 onward, authorities have received 8,267 reports in total, including 2,232 related specifically to graffiti. “Broken windows, damaged waiting rooms, malfunctioning elevators, graffiti-covered walls, and ruined restrooms are not rare; they happen every day,” ProRail said to the AD.
Vandals are hard to catch or trace after the fact. When convictions do occur, they typically involve minors or low-income individuals, meaning ProRail recovers just a few thousand euros annually through payment plans.
The costs for the vandalism are high. Fixing damaged bike shelters costs around 1 million euros each year. Removing graffiti tags and vandalism from walls consumes 420,000 euros annually.
“It’s such a waste of funds, we’d prefer to invest in improved facilities instead of covering repair costs,” said Karen te Boome, ProRail’s Director of Stations. “Each malfunctioning lift, destroyed display, and tagged wall impacts thousands of passengers.”
ProRail asks passengers to be alert and report any suspicious behavior by calling 112, helping to maintain safe and comfortable stations.
