Netherlands records 1,525 explosive attacks in 2025, little change from last year

The Netherlands continues to experience frequent explosions targeting homes, businesses, and vehicles, according to police figures, with little overall decline in 2025.

A government-initiated team, the Offensive Against Explosions, recorded 1,525 attacks or attempted attacks last year, just 18 fewer than in 2024. Authorities say the numbers remain dangerously high. "The consequences of explosions are severe, sometimes even fatal or causing serious injury," the police said.

Most incidents involve heavy fireworks, while over 500 explosions used flammable materials. In these cases, perpetrators attach one or two cobra fireworks to gasoline bottles, creating large fires and extensive damage.

Authorities report that vulnerable youths are often recruited to carry out the attacks for payment. "They are frequently in a socially and economically vulnerable position and sometimes also psychologically fragile. Such vulnerability makes them easily influenced," the team concluded.

Efforts to curb the wave of attacks focus on both prevention and prosecution. "Our focus is on the group of underage boys who are easily influenced, but also on the brokers who lure them in," police officer Jos van der Stap told NOS. "We observe that they intentionally target specific schools or residential support projects for recruitment."

The initiative is a joint effort involving the Ministry of Justice and Security, municipalities, police, the public prosecutor’s office, housing corporations, insurers, probation organizations, and the private sector. Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten, chair of the team, expressed cautious optimism: "But we must not lean back. Hopefully, this decrease is the start of a further decline."

Despite these efforts, explosions continue in the new year. Last week, at least ten detonations occurred across the country. In Almere, a firework bomb exploded at a home late Wednesday night. Earlier, another house in Almere was targeted, and the same day, a residence in Heerhugowaard suffered an explosion; it had previously been attacked twice.

Other recent incidents include two explosions at a döner shop in Amersfoort, which sparked a large fire and caused significant damage to a house in Naarden. Additional attacks occurred this week in Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam.