Explosions Hit Jewish Institutions in Netherlands

No injuries reported in attacks on school and synagogue

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:21pm

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Explosive devices were set off at two Jewish institutions in the Netherlands within two days, Dutch officials said, denouncing the incidents as antisemitic attacks. In Amsterdam, a blast damaged the outer wall of a Jewish school, while in Rotterdam, an explosion started a brief fire at a synagogue. No one was injured in either episode, but the Dutch authorities said they had moved quickly to beef up security at Jewish institutions.

Why it matters

The attacks come amid heightened tensions globally due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and Israel's strikes on Lebanon, which have raised fears of retaliatory attacks on Jews. These incidents are part of a broader trend of rising antisemitism in Europe and elsewhere.

The details

In Amsterdam, Mayor Femke Halsema said the blast at the Jewish school was a 'targeted attack against the Jewish community.' In Rotterdam, the police arrested four teenagers, ages 17 to 19, after the explosion at the synagogue. Authorities described both incidents as antisemitic attacks.

  • On Saturday, March 14, 2026, an overnight blast damaged the outer wall of a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
  • On Friday, March 13, 2026, an explosion started a brief fire at a synagogue in Rotterdam.

The players

Femke Halsema

The mayor of Amsterdam, who called the attack on the Jewish school a 'targeted attack against the Jewish community.'

Rob Jetten

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, who called the two attacks 'horrible' and said there must be 'no place for antisemitism' in the Netherlands.

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What they’re saying

“Jews in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism, and that is unacceptable.”

— Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam

“In the Netherlands, there must be no place for antisemitism.”

— Rob Jetten, Prime Minister of the Netherlands

What’s next

Police are conducting a manhunt for the person who set off the blast at the Jewish school in Amsterdam, who was caught on camera.

The takeaway

These attacks on Jewish institutions in the Netherlands are part of a broader rise in antisemitism in Europe, underscoring the need for vigilance and stronger measures to protect Jewish communities and combat hate.