Home > News > Apparent mortar attack damages Amsterdam court

Apparent mortar attack damages Amsterdam court

DutchAmsterdam.nl — The district courthouse in South Amsterdam’s business district was badly damaged by an explosion overnight, Amsterdam police said on Wednesday.

Dutch media report the damage may have been caused by a mortar shell.

The explosion left a small hole in the outer wall of the building’s third floor.

The explosion caused windows on seven floors of the building to break. Nobody was injured.

Court officials and the Amsterdam police are in the dark as to the motive behind the attack.

Based on an eyewitness report police is looking for two men.

A man who lives in the vicinity of the building told police that after the explosion he saw two men — one running away, the other on a motor bike or a scooter.

The courthouse at Parnassusweg was the venue of the high-profile trial of populist politician Geert Wilders earlier this year. Last June he was acquitted of inciting hatred of Muslims in June.

Four years ago, the high-security courtroom in Amsterdam-Osdorp was also hit by an attack that severely damaged the building. Unknown attackers shot two explosives at the building on the first day of the trial against the criminal William Holleeder and two of his co-defendants.

Ivo Opstelten, Minister of Security and Justice, says today’s attack is an “attack on the state’s rule of law,” and promises no stone will be left unturned in the search for what happened and who the perpetrators are.

[mappress]

Anton and Janet Hein
Publisher at DutchAmsterdam | Website |  + posts

Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.

Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.

Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 43 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.

Category: News | Related to: , , ,

Last updated Saturday, September 20, 2025 CET (Central European Time)

Hello! Our original content is of course protected by © Copyright DutchAmsterdam .nl
Do not republish or repost. Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape    

Why stand in line during your Amsterdam vacation?

Beat the crowds by booking Amsterdam Tours, Skip the Line Tickets, Museums, Excursions and Activities online. GetYourGuide is our trusted ticket partner.

Leave a Reply

Transparency:
The DutchAmsterdam website includes affiliate links. That means we get a small commission — at no additional cost to you — for each purchase you make. Your support helps us provide this site free of charge. Naturally, as our Editorial Policy states, our content is never influenced by our advertisers or affiliates.