Dutch Safety Board probes gas risks after the January explosion in Utrecht
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) announced a new investigation into the risks of natural gas explosions after a powerful blast in Utrecht’s city center on January 15.
The OVV emphasized that authorities have not yet confirmed whether gas caused the Utrecht explosion, as the prosecutors continue to investigate. The inquiry will also examine previous incidents, including a 2022 apartment explosion in Bilthoven and a 2022 house explosion in Oldenzaal.
The Utrecht explosion struck at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, in the narrow, historic Visscherssteeg, an area lined with older homes and businesses. Emergency dispatchers received multiple reports of a blast accompanied by a fire. Firefighters struggled to reach the most affected buildings as the fire spread, prompting authorities to escalate the response to a Grip 2 regional emergency.
Four people were lightly injured; two were treated on site, while two others were transported to UMC Utrecht for observation. “People really had a guardian angel on their shoulders,” said Mayor Sharon Dijksma. Several buildings partially collapsed, leaving streets littered with debris and broken glass. Despite the damage, emergency responders confirmed no missing persons.
The blast caused extensive structural damage. Several shops on Springweg suffered shattered windows and smoke damage. Richard den Besten, owner of a manga comic store on Springweg, told NOS at the time, “From the outside, it looked severe, but inside, it’s not as bad. There is glass everywhere, but we were able to reopen today.”
By January 19, municipal authorities reported that around 10 to 20 residents remained displaced. Temporary housing and support were coordinated with insurers and Stichting Salvage, while debris removal continued.
The explosion drew attention to aging gas infrastructure. The Stedin-operated gas line beneath Visscherssteeg, more than 30 years old, was scheduled for replacement before 2028. The line consists of gray cast iron, a material historically prone to cracking and used widely in the Netherlands until the 1990s. Authorities have not determined whether the pipeline’s age contributed to the blast. Similar incidents involving gray cast-iron gas lines have occurred previously, including a 2019 explosion in The Hague and a 2008 rupture in Amsterdam.
By January 20, the Utrecht explosion had left multiple businesses in Visscherssteeg heavily damaged and forced temporary closures. Fundraisers had collectively raised over 65,000 euros to support affected residents and commercial owners. Rood & Bloem, a city garden store, reported major damage and a temporary halt in operations, with its fundraiser reaching 26,532 euros.
Bakery Bakkerij KEEK also suffered extensive losses, raising 10,800 euros to replace equipment and maintain deliveries. The hair salon Absalom, opened only a year and a half prior, was destroyed, with donations totaling 7,300 euros at the time.
