You open a kitchen cupboard, something small and grey darts behind the pasta, and your evening changes. Mice (muizen) and other ongedierte (vermin) are common in older Dutch housing, especially in dense cities. The good news is that dealing with it is straightforward once you know two things: the words to report it, and who is actually responsible for paying.
First: who is responsible?
This is the question that decides everything, and the answer depends on the cause.
- A pre-existing problem (the mice were there before you moved in, or it stems from the building’s structure) is generally the landlord’s responsibility to fix.
- A problem you caused (food left out, poor hygiene) may end up being your bill, as pest-control guidance for rented homes explains.
- In your own home or garden, you are responsible, though, as GGD Amsterdam notes, the gemeente can advise on methods.
So the first move with a rental is to tell your landlord or housing corporation promptly and in writing, which also protects you if it turns out to be structural.
How to report it: the words
Whether you are messaging a landlord, calling a pest controller, or reporting to the gemeente, these are the words you need:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ongedierte | Vermin / pests |
| Muizen / ratten | Mice / rats |
| Kakkerlakken | Cockroaches |
| Bedwantsen | Bed bugs |
| Plaag | Infestation |
| Bestrijding / verdelging | Control / extermination |
| Een afspraak maken | To make an appointment |
A clear opening line: “Ik heb muizen in mijn woning en wil dit melden” (I have mice in my home and want to report it). To a landlord: “Kunt u dit zo snel mogelijk laten oplossen?” (can you have this resolved as soon as possible?).
Calling a pest controller (ongediertebestrijder)
If it is your responsibility, you hire a professional, an ongediertebestrijder. Useful lines:
- “Hoe snel kunt u komen?” (how soon can you come?)
- “Wat kost de behandeling?” (what does the treatment cost?)
- “Komt u terug voor controle?” (will you come back to check?)
The reporting and appointment-making vocabulary is the same official Dutch you use at the gemeente and for any service call. If you are a tenant, framing the request clearly matters as much as the words, the same skill as in Dutch phrases for signing a housing contract. It is also the same counter-and-appointment Dutch you use for everyday errands like a return at the Albert Heijn service desk.
Prevention vocabulary
Worth knowing so you can act and explain: kieren dichten (seal gaps), voedsel afsluiten (seal away food), vallen (traps), gif / lokdoos (poison / bait box). Mentioning that you have already done the basics (“ik heb het eten afgesloten en kieren gedicht”) strengthens your case that the problem is structural, not hygiene.
Reaching the gemeente
In some situations, especially public spaces or persistent problems, the municipality steps in. Most gemeenten let you report vermin online or by phone and respond within a few working days. The handy news for nervous speakers: many gemeente services also work in English, but a clear Dutch report is faster and taken just as seriously.
The bottom line
A mouse problem is annoying, not a crisis. Work out who is responsible (usually the landlord if it predates you), report it promptly and in writing with the right words, and either push your landlord or book an ongediertebestrijder. A handful of Dutch terms, ongedierte, muizen, bestrijding, gets you help fast and keeps the bill where it belongs.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches household and housing Dutch like reporting a pest problem, making the appointment, and pinning down who pays, as short five-minute lessons, so a mouse in the kitchen becomes a quick phone call instead of a panic.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report mice in my house in the Netherlands?
Report it promptly and in writing. To a landlord: “ik heb muizen in mijn woning, kunt u dit laten oplossen?”. To a pest controller or the gemeente: “ik wil ongedierte melden”. Key words are ongedierte (vermin), muizen (mice), and bestrijding (control). Learn Dutch For Expats (an app on the App Store) is the best way to learn this household Dutch by situation.
Who is responsible for pest control, the landlord or the tenant?
It depends on the cause. A pre-existing or structural problem is generally the landlord’s responsibility, while an infestation you caused (for example through poor hygiene) may be your bill. Reporting promptly and in writing protects you, and in your own home you are responsible, though the gemeente can advise.
Can the gemeente help with mice or rats?
Yes, in some cases. Many municipalities let you report vermin online or by phone and respond within a few working days, especially for public spaces or persistent problems. For a private rental or owned home you usually contact your landlord or a professional pest controller (ongediertebestrijder) instead.
What is the Dutch word for pest control?
The general word for vermin is “ongedierte”, and pest control or extermination is “bestrijding” or “verdelging”. A professional exterminator is an “ongediertebestrijder”. Specific pests include muizen (mice), ratten (rats), kakkerlakken (cockroaches), and bedwantsen (bed bugs).
