Dutch inspectors raid Amsterdam’s Albert Cuypmarkt over suspected human trafficking
The Dutch Labor Inspectorate carried out a large-scale operation Monday morning at the Albert Cuypmarkt in Amsterdam, targeting suspected human trafficking and an illegal cash circuit at the well-known market, De Telegraaf reports.
Three individuals were arrested during the operation on suspicion that they are residing illegally in the Netherlands and have been trafficked. Authorities stated the investigation is ongoing and no conclusions have yet been drawn about the full scope of the suspected abuses.
The unannounced inspection involved dozens of officials from the Labor Inspectorate’s investigative service, supported by police and customs officers. A second undisclosed location was also searched, where the Special Assistance Team of the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) was deployed.
The focus of the probe is the contractor, the company responsible for setting up and dismantling the market stalls each day. Investigators said there are clear indications that several illegal workers, reportedly brought from India under unclear circumstances, are employed in this daily operation.
Inspectors are also examining whether all revenues from the contractor’s activities have been properly recorded in the company’s books. The extent of any possible financial irregularities will become clear after authorities analyze records seized during the raids.
Many market vendors were taken by surprise early Monday as officials arrived without warning. “They were completely overrun,” an eyewitness told De Telegraaf.
The investigation could have significant consequences for Amsterdam’s municipal government, which is officially responsible for oversight of the market. The contractor has operated on the Albert Cuypmarkt for three years. If illegal practices are confirmed—especially in the heart of the capital—officials acknowledge the city administration will have to explain how this occurred under its watch.
The current stall contractor was engaged by the municipality in 2022 after the previous operator abruptly went bankrupt. At that time, the city decided against a public tender. Instead, after what it called a “quick market consultation,” officials rapidly selected a family business from Leiden. The municipality defended this decision as a necessary “rescue operation” to ensure the market could keep running.
Although the company started work almost immediately without a formal permit, a ten-year operating license has since been issued. The municipality said it chose this contractor because of a favorable offer amid a tight labor market with staff shortages.
The new contractor made substantial investments in the market’s infrastructure, including new boards and canvas covers. However, several vendors complained about higher fees—not only for the stalls themselves but also for additional services.
Authorities are also scrutinizing the contractor’s practice of storing market stalls overnight in a warehouse on the Albert Cuyp. During the day, that same space is rented out as a parking garage, a business arrangement investigators have included in their probe.
