More explosive attacks nearly everywhere in the Netherlands despite Randstad decrease

Last year, there were fewer explosive attacks in the Randstad and Oost-Brabant. In the rest of the country, the number of attacks involving illegal fireworks or bombs detonated at homes or businesses, or attempts thereto, increased, ANP reported based on figures obtained from the police via an appeal to the Freedom of Information Act.

The central and eastern parts of the country saw a big increase in incidents involving explosives. There was also a significant increase in Zeeland and West Brabant.

The sharpest decline was in the Amsterdam region, followed by Rotterdam. Despite the decrease, Rotterdam still has the highest number of explosive attacks, followed by the Centrum-Nederland and Amsterdam regions. The fewest attacks occurred in Limburg.

ANP asked Carola Schouten, the mayor of Rotterdam and chair of the Offensive against Explosions, for a reaction, but she has not yet responded. The Offensive is a government initiative to reduce the number of explosive attacks.

The police previously reported that the total number of explosive attacks in the Netherlands last year was comparable to the year before. In both 2024 and 2024, there were over 1,500 attacks with explosives or attempts thereto. In 2023, there were still around 900 incidents. In a few dozen cases, the explosive did not detonate. These attacks were most often committed at homes, and most happened during the winter months.

No figures are available on the number of explosive attacks so far in 2026. ANP has requested these figures from the police, but has not received them yet.