Recently, together with the police, we discovered a drug laboratory in an apartment in Southeast. The laboratory was built in a regular house in a residential area. While one would think that people prefer to carry out their criminal activities in a remote location. How do you know if there are criminals at work in a house in your neighborhood? And what is the municipality doing?
Criminal housing abuse and housing fraud make neighborhoods unsafe. Amsterdam responds with a new, area-oriented approach and close cooperation with parties such as the police. A pilot of this approach has already led to the dismantling of a drug laboratory in an apartment on Hofgeest in Southeast.
Criminal housing abuse
We speak of criminal housing abuse when houses are used for illegal activities. Criminals do all sorts of things there, such as making drugs, growing hemp, prostitution, storing cash or weapons, or illegally storing fireworks. Something can always go wrong. Think of short circuits, fireworks explosions, fires, chemical reactions, or shootings.
Now that it is so difficult to find a house, we need to pay extra attention to how houses are used. After all, houses are meant to live in, not for criminal activities.
Signs of criminal activities
Often, people do not realize that something is wrong in a house on their street or in their building. They may be surprised by taped-up windows or strange smells, but they do not know that these could be signs of criminal activities. Therefore, they report nothing to the police. Important signs include chemical odors, taped-up windows, or darkened rooms that remain closed day and night, dragging jerry cans or large blue barrels, or constantly different visitors coming at strange times or coming in and out with packages.
What is Amsterdam doing?
Since February 2025, the Intervention Team for Criminal Abuse of Housing has been tackling housing abuse together with the police. The pilot team with colleagues from Public Order and Safety, Housing, Services, and the districts is investigating how criminal housing abuse can best be addressed. They are looking at how reports from residents can be handled more intelligently and what residents really need to keep their neighborhood safe and livable. The colleagues in the neighborhoods play an important role in this. They are close to residents, signal irregularities, and know how to address them within the municipality.
Anonymous reporting is possible
Do you find it exciting or scary to report signals? Both via the municipalitys website and via Report Crime Anonymously, you can report completely anonymously. With Report Crime Anonymously, you can also call anonymously to discuss how best to report. Your report is really important. With sufficient clear signals, the municipality and the police can further investigate the matter. When we actually observe criminal activities, this can lead to us freeing up a house for people who have a right to it. And your neighborhood becomes safer again.
Reporting suspicious matters
Do you see things you do not trust regarding the use of a house? Report this via the website of the municipality (this can be anonymous) or Report Crime Anonymously. In alarming signals or immediate danger, call 112.
Want to know more
- Recognize suspicious signals in your neighborhood
- Report illegal (holiday) rentals, housing fraud, or empty houses
- Criminal exploitation: perpetrator or victim?
Photo above article is for illustration