Kralingen residents fed up with anti-social behaviour by students

Residents are complaining about anti-social student behaviour in Kralingen. This was already a problem, they say, but student behaviour has gotten worse over the past two years. The municipal council is working on a plan of action.

Noise which starts in the afternoon and continues until half past four in the morning, a young girl getting followed, excessive drinking, urinating against walls, garden furniture covered in vomit. Kralingen residents feel that students living in the area are causing too much trouble. Reports to the police and the municipality and talking to students about their behaviour have not had results, they say. They feel like the municipality and the university are not doing enough to resolve the issues.

The problems became more serious since many students were at home during the pandemic, but anti-social behaviour has been an issue for longer, say residents. “It started long before covid,” says Sonja Krijgsman, who lives in the Struisenburg district. Residents in this district and the Lusthofkwartier are particularly affected.

Consultation evening

At the end of September, many residents expressed their displeasure at a meeting to discuss the problem. Besides the municipality and residents, the meeting was also attended by student association presidents Friso van der Werff (RSC/RVSV) and Chiel Stalenhoef (Laurentius). Both associations have several student houses in Kralingen. They acknowledge the problem and say that a lot has already been done to address it. “We feel this is a very important subject,” says Van der Werff. “We’re in talks with the municipality about how best to tackle this problem.”

District manager for Kralingen Joeri Viergever is currently drawing up a plan of action, which the municipality will be presenting soon.