Gang violence drives surge in firearm and firework possession among Dutch teens
The number of minors carrying firearms in the Netherlands has surged by 40 percent over the past four years, with police seizing 358 guns from teenagers in 2024 alone. Law enforcement officials warn that the real number of weapons in circulation is significantly higher, as youth gangs continue to arm themselves.
Police data shows that an average of one minor is arrested daily in possession of a firearm. Officers primarily seize weapons during arrests, raids, or after receiving tips. Tolga Koklu, head of Operations and deputy police chief for the Rotterdam Unit, attributes the rising number of teenage gun carriers to gang violence and the ease of obtaining weapons online.
“We have an enormous amount of gun violence within our unit,” said Koklu. “The number of firearms we confiscate from minors is just a fraction of the actual total. The 'dark number' is many times higher.”
“For young people, firearms are a status symbol, and they also carry them for protection due to gang violence. These weapons are extremely easy to buy online, through platforms like Snapchat and Instagram,” Koklu said.
The problem is not unique to the Netherlands. Cities across Europe, including Brussels, Paris, and Stockholm, are seeing an increase in armed youth violence. Last week, a Brussels police chief raised concerns after a string of public shootings involving AK-47s. Koklu noted that shootings in Rotterdam occur in public every few days.
While the number of knives confiscated from minors has slightly declined, police have recorded a sharp increase in the possession of heavy-duty fireworks, which are frequently used in criminal attacks. Authorities seized 3,641 weapons and explosives from minors last year, up from 3,000 in 2020. Among these, the number of heavy-duty fireworks confiscations has risen by more than 50 percent.
Explosives are now commonly used in attacks on homes and businesses, with 1,250 such incidents reported in 2024 alone.
“Carrying out an attack with fireworks is the new form of assassination,” Koklu said. “The penalties for setting off a bomb are much lower than those for murder or a shooting, but the impact is the same.”
Criminal groups often use illegal fireworks such as the Cobra 6, which can be purchased for as little as 7 euros and easily attached to a front door.
“These attacks terrorize neighborhoods, forcing authorities to install cameras, and sometimes lead to mayors ordering home closures,” Koklu said.
Authorities say criminal networks are successfully recruiting young people to carry out violent crimes. Rotterdam-Zuid alone has a population of 60,000 young people, many of whom are vulnerable to gang recruitment.
“They come from broken families and live in disadvantaged neighborhoods. They don’t see the consequences of their actions. Once they enter the criminal world, they are threatened if they try to leave,” Koklu said.
According to police, around 40 percent of minors in juvenile detention have intellectual disabilities, making them even more susceptible to manipulation.
Koklu argues that the sharp increase in fireworks seizures highlights the urgency of the issue. “We see daily violence involving fireworks, whether in attacks on homes and businesses or assaults on police officers,” he said.
The mayor of Rotterdam, Carola Schouten, has launched a Taskforce Offensive Against Explosions to explore ways to curb the number of bombings. Koklu supports a nationwide ban on fireworks as a critical first step.
“A total ban is the first measure we need to take,” he said. “Schools and parents also have a crucial role in prevention. And above all, we must offer young people real alternatives.”
