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Terrorism

In the Netherlands, the attacks on New York and Washington in 2001 and in Madrid in 2004 heightened awareness of terrorism and prompted new measures. Then the country experienced a terror attack within its borders: the murder of Theo van Gogh. The war on terrorism remains a top priority, said Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in response to the terror attacks in London on 7 July 2005.

The Dutch government responded to the attacks in the United States and Spain with measures to protect the Netherlands better against terrorist onslaughts. It has focused on the organisation of the national security system, the powers of investigative bodies and criminal prosecution of suspects.

The murder of Van Gogh

The first terrorist attack by radical Muslims in the Netherlands was the murder of the Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh on 2 November 2004. The public was deeply horrified and outraged, and many feared rising tensions within Dutch society.

After an attack on a Muslim primary school in Eindhoven, Prime Minister Balkenende called for dialogue to overcome the climate of radicalism: 'The struggle against terrorism opposes violence and extremism. By far the most members of the Muslim community wish simply to live in peace and mutual respect with others in the Netherlands. Those who make extremist remarks or resort to violence are not representative of the entire group.' The government announced additional measures after the death of Van Gogh.

London bombings

The war on terrorism remains a top priority. This is what Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said in response to the terror attacks in London on 7 July 2005. 'These acts show once again that we must remain vigilant in our fight against terrorism. Terrorism is an evil that can strike at every country in the European Union. We must stand strong within the European Union and across the world if we are to eradicate this scourge.'

Measures taken

Here are the main measures the government has taken to combat terrorism:

  • Appointing a National Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, charged with developing policy on national and international terrorism and making threat assessments. 
  • Giving police, public prosecutors and judicial authorities greater powers and more scope to investigate concrete potential threats. Making it possible to use methods such as wire-tapping and surveillance at an earlier stage. 
  • Expanding the capacity of the intelligence services (AIVD and MIVD). These services will be responsible for identifying threats and security risks associated with specific individuals, objects and services. 
  • Planning an advisory system to inform government bodies, companies and the public about what measures and what level of vigilance are required. 
  • Banning terrorist organisations blacklisted by the European Union. 
  • Enacting the Crimes of Terrorism Act, which outlaws recruitment and conspiracy for the purpose of committing a terrorist offence. The Act makes it possible to impose harsher sentences for crimes with a 'terrorist motive'.