# Criminal sentencing in the Netherlands

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/criminal-sentencing-in-the-netherlands
> Updated: 2026-10-20T19:01:30.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Recent court rulings in the Netherlands have addressed violent crimes involving attempted murder. 

In Maastricht, a defendant was sentenced to six years in prison for a knife attack at a secondary school in March 2026. The court applied adult criminal law to the perpetrator, despite his age at the time of the incident, ruling that a juvenile sentence was insufficient for the severity of the attack. The victim sustained permanent facial injuries during the incident.

In Zwolle, a 28-year-old man received a 16-year prison sentence for an attempted murder involving an automatic weapon at the Ulu Spor football club. The September 2024 shooting targeted a figure in the criminal underworld and was linked to conflicts between rival drug gangs. The court determined the perpetrator intended to kill both the target and bystanders after he fired 25 rounds at the scene.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-20: Zwolle man sentenced to 16 years for football club shooting

A 28-year-old man received a 16-year prison sentence for attempting to murder a rival gang member with an automatic weapon at a football club in Zwolle, Netherlands.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zwolle-man-sentenced-to-16-years-for-football-club-shooting

### 2026-09-22: Maastricht student sentenced to six years for attempted murder

A 16-year-old has received a six-year prison sentence for a March 2026 knife attack on a classmate in Maastricht, which left the victim with permanent facial injuries.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/maastricht-student-sentenced-to-six-years-for-attempted-murder

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Cite as: Criminal sentencing in the Netherlands. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/criminal-sentencing-in-the-netherlands