Netherlands Still Struggles With Waves of Explosive Attacks

The Netherlands remains in the grip of an unprecedented wave of explosive attacks, with police recording 1,356 incidents so far in 2025, nearly matching the record 1,543 attacks from all of 2024. Despite hundreds of arrests and a national task force dedicated to the problem, authorities warn that the phenomenon is proving extremely difficult to reduce.

Police say it is encouraging that the number of attacks has not surpassed last year's total, but stress that the overall level remains alarmingly high. "There is a lot happening to counter these attacks, but this phenomenon is not easily reduced," Jos van der Stap, the police program manager for high-impact crimes, told NOS.

The figures come from the Offensief Tegen Explosies (Offensive Against Explosions), a nationwide initiative launched in April 2025 involving police, municipalities, housing associations, insurers, and business organisations. In 2024, 1,543 attacks or attempted attacks using explosives took place in the Netherlands. That is an increase of 71% compared to 2023.

Carola Schouten, president of the Offensive against Explosions, stated: "Nowhere in Europe are so many attacks committed using heavy fireworks and explosives as in the Netherlands". The Netherlands stands out internationally both for the high number of explosions per capita and because most involve ordinary citizens in personal conflicts rather than organized crime.

According to police data, more than 500 of this year's explosions involved not only heavy fireworks but also gasoline. In these cases, perpetrators typically attach one or two powerful fireworks, often known as cobras, to a bottle of gasoline, causing a large fireball and extensive damage.

These attacks pose serious risks to residents and first responders. The deadliest case remains the explosion on Tarwekamp in The Hague one year ago, where six people were killed after an attack involving about 200 liters of gasoline.

Of the 1,356 attacks recorded this year, 516 involved gasoline. A total of 926 homes and 227 businesses were damaged. The combination of illegal fireworks, often Cobra-style devices with the power of military-grade explosives, and accelerants creates devastating fireballs that can destroy entire buildings and endanger neighbouring properties.

One of the most surprising aspects of the crisis is that criminal networks aren't behind most attacks. While some attacks are linked to conflicts in criminal circles, police estimate that roughly half have other causes. "Then there is, for example, a relationship issue or a business dispute," Van der Stap said. In many cases, the motive remains unclear. "Victims do not always tell the full story, but sometimes they really don't know themselves," he said.

Police spokesperson Suzan Scholten said, "In more than half of the attacks, there are 'household-level conflicts' between non-criminal citizens". Ordinary neighbours are increasingly using military-grade explosives to settle personal grievances, from divorce disputes to neighbourhood quarrels to business disagreements.

"It has become a very easy way to intimidate people," said Carola Schouten, the mayor of Rotterdam and the chair of a national task force on the explosions. She called the issue a "multi-headed monster".

A total of 323 suspects have been arrested. More than 300 of those arrests were made this year alone, including a large number of minors. While the average suspect age is 23, the single largest group is 16 years old.

"The boys who carry out the job receive the addresses through intermediaries via apps," Van der Stap said. "In addition, a large part of them are low-educated or have mild intellectual disabilities, which makes them prone to making mistakes". Police say the suspects are often lured by promises of quick money and recruited through Telegram and other messaging apps for various criminal activities.

The recurring nature of explosions creates severe psychological impacts that extend beyond physical damage. According to victim support specialist Heerkens, "Explosions are no longer just a big-city issue; they're happening all over the Netherlands, including in the east and north of the country." The recurring nature of explosions amplifies stress and delays recovery. "Unlike witnessing a stabbing or another isolated crime, the threat of explosions feels ongoing when no one is caught".

"Your home, your safe space, is violated," Heerkens explained. Victims often face difficulties returning to normal life, especially if they must temporarily leave their homes due to damage. "Even if people return home, they're often surrounded by chaos: debris, police investigations, and media attention. Many victims tell us the process is slow and unclear, leading to frustration and anger".

A survey by RTL highlights the growing sense of insecurity. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they were somewhat or very concerned about the risk of explosions in their neighbourhoods.

Officials said the blasts are typically organised on the Telegram messaging app, where it is easy to buy illegal fireworks. The combination of encrypted messaging, cross-border fireworks smuggling from Poland and other Eastern European countries, and vulnerable young people willing to carry out attacks for small amounts of money creates a perfect storm that's difficult to disrupt.

To tackle the illegal manufacture, transport and sale of heavy fireworks at the source, the Minister for Justice and Security, working with the Offensive against Explosions, is pushing for cooperation between European member states and for action at European level. In March, the National Police organised an international conference at Europol, bringing together police delegations from seven countries to discuss cooperation on combatting the flows of heavy illegal fireworks and explosives in Europe.

However, the government acknowledges this is "complex and multifaceted and requires cooperation on all fronts: from prevention to prosecution, and from local to European approaches."

The response includes:

Despite these efforts, the stubborn persistence of attacks at near-record levels shows how deeply the problem has taken root in Dutch society. What began as primarily a criminal underworld issue has evolved into a nationwide phenomenon where ordinary citizens resort to explosives for personal disputes, a troubling cultural shift that authorities are struggling to reverse.