A yearlong rat infestation in several neighborhoods of The Hague has left residents on edge, as locals say the animals are no longer staying out of sight.
Here's what to know
According to NL Times, residents say the infestation has dragged on for roughly 12 months and that rats can be seen out in the open on neighborhood streets and in areas where children play.
The animals have started confronting dogs and people, making ordinary time outside, like walks and visits to playgrounds, feel increasingly tense.
Conny Ligtvoet, leader of the Action Group Rat Problem The Hague, who has seen videos of rats on the playgrounds, told Hart van Nederland, "I get so many messages about The Hague. It's enough to make you cry."
The problem has reached a point that many people are avoiding the outdoors altogether.
Why is this important?
The surge of rats and other rodents in the Netherlands has been driven by warmer winters and waste management issues, allowing populations to multiply at unprecedented rates. Human activity is causing increased carbon pollution, which is contributing to rising global temperatures.
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Urban rat infestations are often associated with easy access to food waste, overflowing trash, and aging infrastructure where cramped hiding spots are abundant. When combined with heat, rat populations can thrive, with longer breeding windows, making the problem grow larger and larger.
Per Hart van Nederland, Ligtvoet described how big of an issue it is, saying, "Every neighborhood has problems with the rat plague."
What's being done?
Despite complaints to city officials, residents say efforts to "control the problem" have yet to produce any visible improvement.
Residents and Ligtvoet's action group are keeping the issue in the public eye by sharing and collecting videos from playgrounds and other public spaces.
Because chemical pesticide use has been banned for nonprofessionals and strictly regulated for others since 2017, there has been a lot of focus on prevention, although many argue this has perpetuated and exacerbated the ordeal.
To minimize exterminations, cities need to combine legal pest control with improved waste management, limit accessible food sources, and provide faster follow-up in areas where residents report repeated activity.
Ligtvoet captured the fear of many residents, telling Hart van Nederland, "It's going to go wrong sometime. I'm afraid a rat is going to bite sometime. It's a matter of time."
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