A strong sewage-like smell has settled over parts of eastern and southeastern Amsterdam today, with residents in IJburg and Zuidoost reporting the odor for several hours.
People describe it as sour air, rotten cheese, or something close to pig manure.
Many say it has pushed indoors even when windows stay closed, leaving them unable to air out their homes despite the warm weather.
Where it was noticed
The earliest complaints came from IJburg.
Later in the evening, residents in Zuidoost said they had been smelling it for a long stretch as well.
On the streets, some people covered their noses while walking.
The fire department has not received any formal reports about the smell, a spokesperson said.
What Waternet found
Waternet checked locations that generated the most complaints.
The company says the most likely cause is the ongoing drought.
With little rainfall, less water moves through the sewers, and that can create a sharp sewage odor.
The sewer network is too extensive to flush out on demand, so Waternet says it has to wait for rain.
Industry and oversight
Amsterdam has dealt with industrial smell complaints before from plants in and around the city.
Supervision of those sources sits with the Omgevingsdienst Noordzeekanaalgebied.
In this case the agency has referred back to Waternet’s drought explanation and has not yet answered further questions.
For residents in the affected neighborhoods, the practical step is simply to wait for a proper shower of rain to restore normal flow in the pipes.
