Published on 6/30/2026
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Last updated: 7/1/2026 00:14 (Mecca time)
The Dutch authorities said on Tuesday that they are increasingly concerned about so-called “nihilistic” extremism, which is driven by online networks that glorify violence to attract attention and gain status, which “adds a new dimension to the landscape of threats posed by extremists, including the right-wing movement in the country.”
The Dutch National Coordination Body for Security and Counter-Terrorism stated that this type of extremism is driven by a “destructive and anti-human worldview,” in which violence is viewed as an end in itself rather than an ideological motive, and a means to gain recognition, warning that young people are the most vulnerable to being influenced by what they see online, and some cases may lead to acts of violence on the ground.
The authority noted that these online networks are often international and increasingly encourage the commission of extremist acts, with their perpetrators seeking to achieve fame by publishing violent content.
She pointed out that the threat of “terrorist violence” affiliated with the right-wing movement in the Netherlands has not changed, and that the number of arrests has remained relatively low in the past few years, while she stated that “there is no terrorist threat from left-wing extremism or animal rights groups.”
With a high national threat level of 4 out of 5 indicating a high risk of a terrorist attack in the Netherlands, some of those arrested are young men suspected of making online threats, but often with little evidence that they are preparing to carry out an actual attack.
