Explosions rise in Rotterdam as shootings drop 20%, Mayor says
Explosions in Rotterdam increased in 2025 while shootings declined sharply, according to a letter sent to the municipal council by Mayor Carola Schouten, Rijnmond reported.
The city recorded 168 explosions in 2025, up from 151 the previous year, an increase of more than 10 percent. Schouten described the change as “a small increase.” At the same time, shootings fell by about 20 percent, dropping to 57 incidents from 69 a year earlier.
Across the wider region, however, explosions decreased. Authorities recorded 249 explosions in 2025, down 12 percent from 284 the year before.
In Rotterdam, police data also shows a rise in weapons possession, which increased by roughly 25 percent. Schouten said, “The increase in weapons possession is not reflected in the number of shooting incidents in the municipality of Rotterdam.” She added, “It should be noted here that these figures are, of course, still concerning.”
Explosions and shootings are classified as “excessive violence” by city officials. According to Schouten, “For the most part, the targets are homes and business premises.” She added that “a limited part” of cases involves individuals, mainly in shootings.
Specific incidents underscore the pattern of property targeting, including an explosion on Mathenesserstraat in Rotterdam-West in mid-October, another explosion at a shop in Oude Noorden in December of the previous year, and an explosion in 2025 on Berkelstraat in Rotterdam-Kralingen.
Authorities arrested 109 people in connection with explosions and 121 in connection with shootings in 2025. Of those detained, 116 suspects were under the age of 23, and nearly 65 percent were minors.
Schouten said the city must focus on “the vulnerabilities” of young perpetrators of excessive violence, “with the aim of preventing offending or repeat offending.” She added that many measures are directed at vulnerabilities among young people who are at increased risk of entering criminal activity.
