The mayors of the Netherlands’ four largest cities say homelessness is becoming an increasingly serious problem in their municipalities. They report a “dramatic” rise in the number of homeless people, as well as more complaints about nuisance. In an open letter to the government, the mayors of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague called for concrete measures to tackle the situation.

The four mayors said conditions for homeless people are worsening rapidly, while the situation in public spaces is also deteriorating. The mayors argue that people should not have to sleep on the streets or be left in “the most dire circumstances.”

They are asking the government for around 100 million euros in additional annual funding, including money for shelter spaces, medication to help manage crack addiction, better support for homeless migrant workers and the reversal of cuts to mental healthcare.

The four mayors highlighted that while treatments like methadone exist for heroin, no standard medical substitute exists for crack cocaine. However, they pointed to research showing that treatment with dexamfetamine successfully helps users reduce or quit. They explicitly requested permission from the minister to launch a specialized pilot program utilizing this medication in the major cities.

“In our wealthy Netherlands, people should not have to sleep on the streets or be left to their own devices in the most miserable circumstances,” the mayors said in the letter.

They collectively warned that the state of individuals experiencing homelessness is deteriorating severely, writing that many are “confused, addicted, and visibly desperate.” They noted that public spaces risk degrading to a level “that does not fit the Netherlands.