Rotterdam dismisses two officials over construction corruption suspicions

The Municipality of Rotterdam has summarily dismissed two civil servants following revelations of suspected corruption involving construction projects. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) suspects the individuals of accepting bribes from companies in exchange for preferential treatment in municipal tenders, including projects such as asbestos removal at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Mayor Carola Schouten stated that the criminal investigation revealed conduct that was ‘substantially more serious’ than what was initially uncovered by the municipality’s own internal integrity probe. The OM has identified eleven suspects in total, including three officials and six companies.

The Socialist Party (SP) has called for further clarification from the city administration regarding the handling of the case. Party leader Emin Basoglu raised questions about why the initial internal investigation only resulted in official warnings in early 2026, rather than immediate dismissal. The SP also highlighted financial risks, noting that €2.3 million in additional work was performed on existing contracts with companies under investigation while the probe was ongoing.