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Ten years of Dutch Counterterrorism Policy
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Photos of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism
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Ten years of Dutch Counterterrorism Policy

A terrorist network in Rotterdam was broken up on 13 September 2001, two days after the towers of the World Trade Centre in New York were destroyed by flying Al-Qaeda bombs. There was no direct relationship between the attacks of 9/11 and the plans of the group operating in the Netherlands, but both groups of offenders were inspired by the same, jihadist, ideology.

Enclosed you'll find an article of mr. Akerboom in the 'Militaire Spectator' with a summary outline of the terrorist threat against the Netherlands during the past ten years. It will also deal with the manner in which those fighting terrorism in the Netherlands have responded to the threat. At the end of this documument the national CT strategy, which was elaborated and embraced by all services and parties involved in the field of counterterrorism. And finally future developments.

Ten years of Dutch Counterterrorism Policy - article09-09-2011 | pdf-document, 0.18 MB
Counterterrorism measures in the Netherlands in the First Decade of the 21st CenturyReport | 28-01-2011 | pdf-document, 3.14 MBOn the cause, application, assessment, and amendment of counterterrorism measures in the Netherlands 2001 - 2010
National counterterrorism strategy 2011-2015Report | 29-06-2011 | pdf-document, 2.85 MBThe objective of this strategy is to reduce the risk of a terrorist attack and the fear of one, and to limit possible damage after any attack. This national strategy for counterterrorism in the Netherlands presents an integral and cohesive approach to terrorism for the coming years. The main point of departure is that an effective approach to terrorism can only succeed if the phenomenon is nipped in the bud. Not only must the acts of violence themselves be tackled, but also the process that preceded these acts. In doing so, the aim is to identify processes of radicalisation1 among groups and individuals at an early stage, so that specific intervention strategies can be used to prevent a situation whereby they continue to radicalise and become violent, and eventually start committing terrorist acts. Different responses of a more repressive nature are required for those who have already taken the step towards being prepared to commit violence, or who are on the point of doing so. This combination of preventive and repressive measures is known as the ‘comprehensive approach’ and has been used successfully in the Netherlands for some time now. The comprehensive approach forms the basis of Dutch CT policy.
The broad-based approach to counterterrorism: origin, development, and state of affairs03-01-2012 | pdf-document, 53 KB

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Publications

In this section of the website, you will find a large number of publications on terrorism and counterterrorism. All the press releases from recent years are arranged chronologically. You can also read a number of speeches from the past year. In addition, you will find various reports and policy documents on terrorism-related topics.

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Photos of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism

Photographs of the NCTV can be obtained on request for your publications. Please remember to credit the NCTV as the source of the photos.

E.S.M.( Erik) Akerboom01-04-2009 | pdf-document, 0.32 MB
Th.P.L. (Theo) Bot01-10-2008 | pdf-document, 0.15 MB

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National legislation

A number of changes have been made to our national legislation in order to fight terrorism in the Netherlands. The most important of these is the adoption of the Crimes of Terrorism Act.