By order of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), the Plus Gommers supermarket in Roosendaal has been closed due to mice nuisance. There is a handwritten message about the situation in front of the door of the store at the Dijkcentrum. “We are doing everything we can to reopen as soon as possible,” the store owner wrote.
The NVWA inspected the store on Monday and concluded that the store had to close immediately and could only reopen once the pest nuisance has been resolved. The store has also previously been closed on its own initiative for cleaning work related to mouse nuisance.
There are two large garbage containers at the rear of the store. In the warehouse, the staff is busy throwing away part of the stock: “The NVWA has indicated that unfortunately we are no longer allowed to sell a substantial part of the range and we will of course comply with this,” a PLUS spokeswoman said.
What does an emergency closure entail?
If NVWA inspectors discover serious risks to public health, they can temporarily close a company urgently. An emergency closure is one of the strictest measures that the NVWA can impose. Serious nuisance from pests is a reason to do this.
Mice and other pests carry all kinds of bacteria and diseases, which they can spread through their droppings. A business may not reopen until all contaminated food has been removed, the premises have been thoroughly cleaned and effective measures have been taken to control and keep out pests. The NVWA then carries out a re-inspection.
The NVWA closed 75 shops and catering establishments in 2025, while 57 companies had to temporarily close their doors in 2024 due to nuisance from pests.
Local resident Flip indicates that he had noticed the nuisance before: “Yesterday I saw them looking in the shelves, I had previously indicated that there were mice walking around.” He doesn’t mind it: “It gets cold outside, then those creatures go inside. That can happen anywhere, right.”
Local resident Rien also indicates that he had noticed the mice in the store before: “But of course, they can’t just put mouse traps everywhere here. They should let a few cats in!”, he says laughing.
Another passerby thinks mainly about all the food that is thrown away: “That’s a shame, they should have given it to the food bank. I think a lot of it has to be thrown away when it really shouldn’t have been.”
Statements of support
The store owner has received many expressions of support from the neighborhood: “From customers, fellow shopkeepers and fellow entrepreneurs. That is good for him,” a PLUS spokeswoman said.
It is still unclear when the store will reopen. Once the store has been cleaned and the stock has been selected according to the guidelines of the NVWA, a re-inspection must first take place. Only when everything is in order can the store open again. “We set high standards for our hygiene. We are doing everything we can to reopen as soon as possible and give you the quality you have come to expect from us,” reads the sign in front of the entrance to the store.
