Dutch explosive attacks reach 1,356 in 2025, leveling off after last year’s surge

A building in Hoofddorp was rocked by an explosion late Saturday night, the latest in a relentless series of attacks across the country. No one was injured in the incident, but the incident underscores a national surge in explosive attacks that authorities say shows no sign of abating.

The explosion occurred at an apartment complex on Hof van Pampus. Earlier Saturday afternoon, the building had also been targeted by gunfire. Police said the blast involved heavy fireworks, damaging the front door of one apartment.

This incident is part of a broader epidemic of explosive attacks. According to the Offensief Tegen Explosies, a national coalition including police and municipalities, the Netherlands has already seen 1,356 attacks this year, with more than 500 involving gasoline combined with heavy fireworks. Authorities expect this year’s total number of attacks to approach last year’s 1,543 incidents.

Jos van der Stap, program manager for high-impact crimes, told NOS that the impact on communities is severe. “You can imagine what it does to a neighborhood when a house goes up in flames, sometimes taking the house next door with it. Entire communities live in fear,” he said.

He noted that some attacks are meant to intimidate or seek revenge, while others stem from personal or business conflicts, and mistakes are common. Last year, a woman in Nieuwkuijk lost her lower leg in an attack intended for her neighbors, and a notorious Tarwekamp attack in The Hague killed six people when 200 liters of gasoline were ignited.

The attacks often involve young perpetrators, many of them minors. While the average age of suspects is 23, the largest group arrested this year was just 16. Police warn that these youths are easily manipulated by older “brokers” who recruit them from schools or youth programs to carry out attacks or other criminal tasks.

Authorities are tackling the problem on multiple fronts, focusing on prevention, prosecution, and aftercare. Efforts include reducing access to heavy fireworks and disrupting recruitment networks.