The Hague Mayor pledges ongoing aid for Tarwekamp attack victims at one-year memorial

The Hague Mayor Jan van Zanen spoke at the public memorial service for the deadly explosion at the Tarwekamp in the Mariahoeve neighborhood Sunday afternoon at the Advent Church in The Hague. Van Zanen emphasized that personalized support will continue for everyone impacted by the attack. “We won’t leave anyone until they are able to stand on their own,” he said, adding that he does not intend to introduce “one-size-fits-all measures.”

It has been a year since an explosive attack partially destroyed an apartment building, killing six people, three of whom belonged to the same family. Five others were injured. Four suspects have been detained in relation to the attack, which was aimed at the bridal store of the main suspect’s former girlfriend.

Van Zanen said in his speech that he could not ignore the fact that “Mariahoeve has been rocked for the second time by an event with a profound impact.” He was referring to last Thursday morning’s accident on Bezuidenhoutseweg, which claimed the lives of three young adults. He described it as “especially bitter that this occurred in Mariahoeve, so near to this meaningful day.”

A representative from Victim Support spoke to the audience on behalf of the Greek wife of a 44-year-old man who died in the attack. “We went through a situation that only people in war zones or terrorist incidents experience,” she said. The widow, who has three children with her late husband, now lives in Greece. “For the rest of my life, the image of my husband’s body parts will haunt my soul,” she added.

On December 7, 2024, the day of the deadly attack, Van Zanen recalled instantly sensing that something was wrong. “Shortly after, I found myself in total darkness amid smoke and shattered glass. The smell of burning will stay with me forever,” he said. He reflected that “what happened a year ago remains unimaginable.”

Seven out of 18 apartments and eight out of 18 business units in the apartment block were destroyed. The property owners are exempt from paying municipal taxes and ground lease charges for this year and the next.

The municipality reports that several residents and business owners have already returned to Tarwekamp, with more expected to do so by early 2026. Some residents are unable to come back because of lingering fears and traumatic experiences. “For these individuals, we’ll take it step by step, assess the situation, and see what we can do. I won’t say it’s impossible to resolve. We are willing to go to great lengths to help everyone,” they added.

Van Zanen believes that with personalized municipal support, actions by the Tarwekamp homeowners’ association (VVE), and time, all victims of the Tarwekamp attack will eventually be able to manage on their own. “Anyone who feels they might fall through the cracks now or later should make themselves known,” he added.