Dutch far-right activist arrested in Syria, family fears terrorism charges
A Dutch man known for his far-right views is currently under arrest in Syria, RTL has reported. Max van den Berg, dubbed the “torch threat” after he showed up in 2022 with a burning torch outside the residence of then-Minister Sigrid Kaag, is now imprisoned in Damascus, the capital of Syria.
News of his arrest emerged on February 18, 2026, after written questions from FVD MP Gideon van Meijeren to the Foreign Minister. The exact charges remain unknown, but it is suspected that the Syrian authorities detained him due to his extremist rhetoric or ambiguous activities in Syria.
According to unverified reports, Syrian authorities surrounded van den Berg’s hotel room in Damascus before arresting him. His parents report that they have not been able to contact him since last week.
His father says that in recent months, van den Berg expressed support on social media for Kurdish groups in Syria, which may have drawn the attention of Syrian authorities. He is also said to have shared photos of himself with weapons, such as posing with firearms at events, which could heighten the risk of terrorism-related charges.
Van den Berg initially traveled through Germany, Austria, and Turkey to the Middle East and, according to his own social media posts, intended to enter Gaza to provide aid. When entry was blocked, he tried to return via Lebanon and eventually through Syria.
Van den Berg also faces an unserved sentence in the Netherlands: one month in prison for defamation and making threats against a lawyer and journalists. He had already served five months for the earlier incident outside Kaag’s residence.
His father describes him as vulnerable and says that van den Berg has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. His family is extremely worried about his conditions in Syria and the risk of facing terrorism charges.
Van Meijeren has requested that the minister explain the current situation and detail what consular support is being offered. However, as the Netherlands has no embassy in Syria, it is unable to offer direct consular support. The family says the Foreign Ministry still lacks clarity on van den Berg’s current situation.
His family is concerned that Syrian authorities might accuse him of terrorism, despite insisting that he is not a terrorist, a point his father strongly affirms. “Whatever people may claim, he is not a terrorist,” the father told RTL.
In the past, the Netherlands faced the issue of dozens of Dutch citizens traveling to Syria and Iraq in connection with jihadist conflicts. Security services report that hundreds have expressed support, with dozens having either returned or died.
According to the General Intelligence and Security Service of the Netherlands (AIVD), roughly 75 Dutch citizens are still in Syria, Iraq, or Turkey. The majority are (former) IS affiliates detained in camps or detention centers in the northeastern part of the region.
