Weapon crime with young suspects at highest level in years; Policy failing, experts say

Weapon crimes involving young suspects reached the highest levels in years across the Netherlands in 2025, with minors accounting for nearly one in five cases, as government efforts to curb youth weapon possession have failed, experts told RTL Nieuws.

Police and military police recorded a total of 8,005 weapon offenses last year, 665 more than in 2023, including a record 1,370 minor suspects. That figure marks the highest number of underage weapon-crime suspects in years. Police seized a record number of illegal weapons from minors, primarily knives but increasingly firearms, including converted gas pistols.

School suspensions for weapons also peaked at 240. While adult suspects declined, the number of minors charged with murder or attempted murder rose.

Weapons-related crimes doubled in 78 municipalities between 2024 and 2025. Eindhoven had the highest rate per capita with 350 cases. Rotterdam had the most minor suspects. The number of municipalities with minor suspects in firearm incidents rose to 64 in 2025 from 45 in 2019. Minor weapon-crime suspects have increased 20 percent since 2019.

Firearms expert Richard Martens from the police blamed much of the rise in guns on anonymous trade on social media. "Young people can obtain these kinds of weapons there completely anonymously," he told RTL.

Criminologist Henk Ferwerda of research firm Bureau Beke, called the combined increases alarming. "If you look through this, you see something disturbing; a hardening of crime and weapon use among a relatively small group of young people."

Professor Frank Weerman, who specializes in criminology and high school youthes, told the news outlet that most young people carry weapons for self-protection due to a feeling of insecurity. "Then there is still a smaller category that carries a weapon out of criminal behavior."

A tragic example occurred last year in Amsterdam-Zuidoost when 17-year-old Rivaldo was shot dead. After a friend was robbed of a fake gold chain, Rivaldo tried to intervene, reportedly saying, "Leave that boy alone; you already have his chain." A 16-year-old returned with a weapon and shot him. Rivaldo tried to run away but was killed.

Artist and youth coach Kenny "Genge" Brenet, who knew Rivaldo from school and basketball games, described him as "a beautiful, optimistic and good boy." Brenet added, "I understood that he still tried to run away from the shooter. The fear he must have had at the end of his life—I don't even want to think about it."

In 2019, a surge in youth stabbings, including attacks on 14-year-olds in Rotterdam and Spijkenisse, prompted multiple mayors to raise the alarm. That led to the 2020 national "Weapons and Youth" action plan involving municipalities, police, and ministries. The Justice and Security Ministry launched the campaign "Drop je knife, doe wat met je life," aiming to reduce weapon incidents by 25 percent in two years through education, turn-in actions, and preventative searches.

Those goals were not achieved. All key youth weapon-crime figures have risen since 2019. A 2023 report from the Scientific Research and Documentation Center (WODC) was already critical of the plan, citing a lack of proper research on effective measures.

Ferwerda said the targeted group dismisses such initiatives. "The group we're talking about laughs at commercials or well-intentioned posters, and you don't see them at a weapon turn-in action."

Weerman also warned that broad campaigns can backfire. "International research shows that such general measures and superficial education have hardly any effect. Turn-in actions can unintentionally increase the sense of insecurity."

Justice and Security Minister David van Weel said the trend causes him "much worries." He stated, "The hardening of society and violence at ever younger ages is a trend that we truly must reverse. This, combined with the increasing availability of weapons, creates a very toxic cocktail."