Rats in Maastricht
The brown rat is becoming increasingly common in Dutch cities and is regularly causing problems—Maastricht is no exception. The municipality is trialling various methods to combat and prevent rat infestations, one of which are sewer traps.
In 2021, the municipality installed traps in the sewer system in Nazareth to catch rats, and these have proved effective. In summer 2022, we began installing traps in part of De Heeg. In February 2025, we will also be placing rat traps in part of Heer.
Antimex is the company responsible for installing and maintaining the traps in various neighbourhoods. They carry out maintenance once a month, so you may see Anticimex staff in your area.
Heer
What is the municipality doing?
Anticimex Pest Management, the municipality and housing associations are working together to tackle the rat problem in Heer. In February 2025, we will install 20 smart traps in the sewer system in parts of Heer. We will also place traps above ground in the same area.
Information session
Do you live in Heer? You are welcome to attend our information session on rats, taking place on Wednesday 19 February 2025 from 19.30 to 21.00 at the Aen de Wan community centre, Einsteinstraat 32. We will explain what we are doing to combat rats in Heer, how you can help, and we will also answer your questions. Coffee, tea, and vlaai (a local pastry) will be provided. Please note: the session will be held in Dutch.
If you are planning to attend, please register by sending an email to janneke.ackermans [at] maastricht.nl.
De Heeg
How has it been going so far?
De Heeg is one of the Maastricht districts with a high incidence of rat problems. However, the traps have made a positive impact. Overall, the sewer traps have caught around 1,300 rats. Hardly any rats have been caught above ground recently, and the number of reports from streets where traps are located has dropped. Between January and July 2022, there were 17 reported sightings. Over the same period in 2023, we received just 1 report.
Other measures have also played a role. We have given extra attention to waste disposal, and residents have helped by keeping their homes and gardens tidy. Altogether, our approach and partnership efforts have been successful.
What’s next?
We will continue moving the traps every 6 months or so in the coming years. This helps reduce rat problems in various places and allows us to see how effective the traps are when relocated. After a few years, we will know roughly how many traps are needed to keep the sewers in Maastricht as free from rats as possible.
Information session
On Thursday 23 November 2023, an information session was held at the De Boeckel community centre for residents of De Heeg. We provided an update on the measures and the sewer traps, and there was an opportunity to ask questions.
View the presentation (in Dutch)
Survey
At the end of October, we carried out a survey in De Heeg to see whether residents were still spotting rats in their area.
Nazareth
We have also placed traps in the sewer system in Nazareth, which will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Over the coming years, we will be carrying out work on the sewer system in this neighbourhood. By keeping traps in place, we aim to keep rat numbers in the sewer as low as possible, preventing them from fleeing above ground during the works.
Frequently asked questions
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When a rat enters a trap, it is killed quickly. This may sound unpleasant, but it is considered the most humane method available. Together, these traps account for around 75 rats caught each month. By reducing the number of rats in the sewer, fewer of them come above ground, and as a result, nuisance to residents is reduced.
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It’s vital for us to know where rats are located so we can plan where to move the sewer traps next. If you see a rat—or clear evidence such as burrows, droppings, or gnawing damage—please report this to the council or your housing association.. You can contact the municipality on the MijnGemeente app, at Gemeente Maastricht | Report a problem, or by calling 14 043.
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Private properties
If you experience rat problems in or around your home, you can report it to the municipality. The municipality will contact you and, if necessary, send a pest control expert to conduct an inspection at no cost. While the pest controller will advise you on the possible causes of the infestation and on control methods, you will have to cover the costs of the actual extermination.
Public spaces
The municipality encourages reporting rat sightings on the streets. With an increase in such reports, the municipality will investigate the causes and consider solutions for the infestation.
In certain areas, rats in sewers are controlled using regular traps or drowning traps. The use of poison is strictly regulated due to its potential to also harm animals that prey on rats, such as foxes, stone martens, and birds of prey. Moreover, trapping or drowning is considered more humane than poisoning.
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What can I do myself about a rat infestation?
- Do you smell sewage inside your home? This could indicate a damaged sewer system. Have the sewer inspected (by your housing association or landlord if you’re renting). The owner is responsible for the sewer up to the property boundary.
- Check your downpipes. If they’re broken, get them repaired (again, by your housing association or landlord if you’re renting).
- Have you spotted a rat or a suspicious hole in the ground? Report it to the municipality.
How can I prevent rat infestations?
- Avoid leaving residual waste bags, pmd bags or other waste outside.
- Put food scraps in the green bin, rather than in the residual waste bag.
- Don’t leave any leftovers in or around waste containers at the milieuperrons (sorting stations).
- Store animal feed in tightly sealed containers - never outdoors.
- Don’t overfeed chickens, rabbits or other animals kept outside. Make sure they can eat the food in one go without leftovers. The same goes for feeding birds.
- Clear away anything that might provide shelter for rats.
- If you have a dog, please clean up after it. Dog mess can also be a food source for rats.