Dutch cities struggle with rising hoarding and housing filth cases
Major Dutch cities are facing a surge in cases of extreme housing filth and hoarding, prompting growing concern among municipal officials. Data from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht show a sharp rise in the number of reports related to unsanitary living conditions, with some cities recording daily incidents.
Authorities warn of severe fire hazards in homes overloaded with piles of belongings, structural risks from excessive weight on floors, and the presence of pests and human waste. In Amsterdam alone, an unlivable home is forcibly cleared out approximately every two weeks due to extreme conditions.
Data from the four largest cities in the Netherlands show a dramatic increase in reported cases. Amsterdam recorded 673 cases in the past year, marking a 40 percent rise. Rotterdam saw 360 cases, a 60 percent increase over the past five years. The Hague reported 348 cases, reflecting a 57 percent jump. Meanwhile, Utrecht experienced a staggering 83 percent rise, with 132 cases compared to 72 five years ago.
In The Hague and Rotterdam, authorities receive at least one report per day, while Amsterdam logs up to two daily. Last year, Rotterdam carried out three forced evictions due to extreme hoarding, and Utrecht conducted five. In Amsterdam, weekly evictions were previously common, though efforts to intervene earlier have reduced the frequency to once every two weeks.
Ruud Janssen, a housing sanitation specialist in Rotterdam, describes encountering apartments packed to the ceiling with garbage. “Sometimes, I have just a tiny gap to squeeze through. I have to climb over a mountain of trash just to assess the situation,” he said.
Once inside, Janssen determines the level of intervention needed, including whether a forced cleanup is necessary. “Cleaning a house usually takes a day, but in extreme cases, it can take up to three,” he said. “We find everything—trash bags stacked to the ceiling, clogged toilets, filthy kitchens, rodents, cockroaches. You name it.”
The issue spans all social classes, but Janssen notes a trend among older individuals, particularly men living alone. “Many elderly people end up isolated in their homes, unable to keep up with cleaning. Others struggle with addiction or mental health issues,” he explained.
Schouten, a coordinator for the Amsterdam Public Health Service (GGD), echoes these concerns, describing a slow descent into unsanitary conditions. “It starts with a clogged toilet. Then they start using the upstairs bathroom, which eventually gets blocked too. Before long, waste piles up everywhere,” she said.
The causes vary, ranging from physical incapacity to cognitive decline. “Some don’t know how to seek help, while others are too ashamed to let anyone in,” she added. Shame often keeps residents from asking for assistance until conditions become unbearable. “We’ve had cases where urine drips through the ceiling, or rotting food fills the air with unbearable stench,” Schouten said.
Beyond the overwhelming clutter, the issue presents serious safety risks. Some residents, unable to pay for utilities, resort to using candles or portable heaters in overcrowded apartments filled with paper and flammable materials. “That’s when fires happen,” Schouten said. “Luckily, it’s rare, but the danger is real.”
The problem extends beyond just cleaning up. “Some people retrieve items from the street or their neighbors’ trash. For hoarders, parting with any possession is painful—even throwing away an old newspaper can be agonizing,” Janssen explained. “I’ve had someone tell me it felt ‘cruel’ to throw away a carton of expired yogurt because it would be ‘lonely’ in the trash bin.”
To avoid forced evictions, cities are shifting toward earlier intervention and support. In Rotterdam, authorities have worked with the same approach for 15 years, focusing on addressing underlying problems rather than simply clearing homes. “Filth and hoarding are symptoms of deeper issues,” Janssen said. “We need to tackle the root causes.”
However, gaps remain. “Health care, mental health services, and municipal cleaning crews don’t always coordinate their efforts,” Janssen noted. “We need a clear, unified plan.”
Amsterdam has already changed its strategy after reports from the local ombudsman criticized previous reliance on rapid evictions. Now, the city offers special assistance programs—though many have long waitlists. Schouten and other experts are pushing for a nationwide approach. “Every city handles it differently, but there’s no proven best practice,” she said. “We need a standardized, national response.”
