Rotterdam is facing a serious rat problem. In the first six months of 2025 alone, the city received over 1,400 reports of rats in public places. Traditionally, rats were controlled using poison, but since 2023, outdoor rat poison has mostly been banned. This ban was put in place to protect pets, birds, and other wildlife from accidental poisoning and to prevent rats from becoming resistant to chemicals. With food bans in parks having little effect, the city needed a new plan: that’s when they turned to ferrets.
How the Ferret Trial Works
Ferrets are natural predators of rats and have been used with success in other European cities like Etterbeek in Belgium and Marseille in France. Rotterdam hired professional rat catcher Nico Kraaijeveld, who worked with a team of ferrets and dogs. The process began by locating rat burrows in busy city hotspots such as Afrikaanderplein, Brede Hilledijk, and Lijnbaan.
Once a burrow was found, the ferrets were released into the tunnels. The ferrets either caught the rats underground or scared them out into special traps placed at the exits. Dogs then helped by finishing off the trapped rats. This team was called out about ten to twelve times during the trial. One notable success was at Afrikaanderplein, where 69 rats were caught in just three hours. This caught the attention of Benvenido van Schaik, a local council member, who called it a “real breakthrough.” He is now pushing for Rotterdam to establish a permanent “ferret brigade” dedicated to rat control.
Photo credits: Verina/Pexels
Public Reactions and Animal Welfare Concerns
While the trial proved effective in reducing the rat population, not everyone in Rotterdam supports the method. Many city residents are uneasy about dogs killing trapped rats, a practice that some find distressing. Kraaijeveld noted that rural residents are generally more accepting of animals being killed during pest control, but city dwellers often have stronger concerns about animal welfare.
To address these worries, the city is exploring alternative methods to kill trapped rats, such as using CO₂ gas, which could be viewed as a more humane option. This shows the city’s effort to balance effective pest control with respect for animal rights and public opinion.
Next Steps for Rotterdam
The municipality is awaiting the final report from this trial, which will be presented to the municipal council. The council will decide whether the ferret method should become a regular part of Rotterdam’s pest control strategy. They will also consider whether to create a permanent “ferret brigade” and discuss possible changes to make the method more acceptable to the public.
This trial sits at the crossroads of public health, urban wildlife control, and ethics. It offers a promising, environmentally friendly alternative to poisons for reducing the city’s rat population. However, Rotterdam wants to move forward thoughtfully to make sure the method fits with both effective pest management and community values.
If the Rotterdam council approves the plan, the city could become the first in the Netherlands to officially use ferrets in a dedicated role to fight rat infestations. This approach may serve as a model for other cities struggling with similar problems, offering a natural, less harmful way to manage urban pests. For now, the ferret experiment remains a hopeful and innovative step towards cleaner, safer urban living in Rotterdam.
