Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has called for national action to tackle growing homelessness, crack use and public disorder in Dutch cities.
She said local authorities cannot solve the problems without support from the national government.
Halsema discussed the situation during an interview with Het Parool and an appearance on the television programme Buitenhof.
She said Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht are facing similar pressures.
Amsterdam currently has records of 3,644 people linked to public disorder. This number does not represent the city’s total homeless population.
A 2024 count found that more than 15,000 people in the Amsterdam region were homeless or at risk of losing their homes.
City officials believe the real figure is higher.
Halsema said the most visible problems involve a combination of homelessness, crack addiction and people struggling with mental health conditions.
Residents have reported tents, people sleeping outside and discarded needles in public places, including parks.
Halsema said the situation is affecting residents’ quality of life. She added that it is also harmful and traumatic for people living with addiction.
She accused the national government of focusing too heavily on income and taxation while failing to address what she described as visible poverty in public spaces.
Halsema wants the government to provide more stable funding for mental health services and tackle the national housing shortage.
She also called for changes to rules affecting foreign workers.
About 1,500 people linked to public disorder in Amsterdam come from Eastern Europe, according to Halsema.
Some migrant workers lose both their jobs and accommodation because employers or agencies connect the two. This can leave them homeless with little access to support.
Halsema wants stricter action against dishonest employment agencies and better protection for migrant workers.
She said the four major cities need long-term national measures because temporary local programmes cannot address the main causes of the crisis.
