Russia Launches DDoS Attacks on Dutch Government Websites on Eve of NATO Summit
Several Dutch provincial and municipal government websites were temporarily inaccessible this week following a series of coordinated DDoS attacks claimed by Russian hackers. The cyberattacks, which began early Monday morning, targeted the public-facing websites of local administrations across the Netherlands, making them difficult or impossible to access for several hours.
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack overwhelms a website’s server with massive volumes of traffic, rendering it unresponsive to regular users. In this case, the hackers aimed their efforts at official portals used by Dutch citizens to access municipal information, forms, and services.
The hackers, who identified themselves as being part of a pro-Russian operation, took credit for the disruptions through a Telegram channel associated with earlier cyberattacks against European states that support Ukraine. While the specific group was not officially confirmed, previous incidents involving groups like Killnet and NoName057(16) suggest a pattern of politically motivated digital disruption aimed at NATO member states.
Local governments affected by the attack included websites for cities such as The Hague and provincial governments including South Holland and Gelderland. Officials confirmed that while online services were hindered, there was no evidence that internal systems were compromised or that sensitive data was accessed or leaked.
Cybersecurity experts in the Netherlands have downplayed the immediate threat of the attacks but acknowledge the growing frequency of such incidents.
“These are nuisance attacks more than anything else,” said a spokesperson from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). “But they are clearly designed to test defenses and undermine public confidence in digital infrastructure.”
This is not the first time the Netherlands has been targeted by Russian hackers. In recent years, Dutch institutions—including the Port of Rotterdam and national government ministries—have reported waves of similar attacks. Most of these incidents occurred during periods of heightened geopolitical tension, particularly following Dutch military or financial support to Ukraine.
Analysts believe these attacks are part of a broader Russian strategy of digital harassment aimed at Western allies of Ukraine. Instead of trying to steal classified data, the attackers focus on disrupting services and sowing confusion. The attacks also serve as propaganda tools: cyber disruptions are publicized in Russian-friendly media as evidence of the West’s vulnerability and inability to defend itself.
The Dutch government is currently reviewing cybersecurity protocols across its public sector infrastructure. Municipalities have been advised to bolster their web protections, update firewall rules, and coordinate with national authorities for future prevention.
In the meantime, citizens who rely on these websites for public services were advised to use alternative communication channels, such as email or phone, while digital services were restored.
The attacks are a reminder that while conventional warfare continues in Ukraine, Russia’s digital front extends well beyond its borders. And as long as Western democracies support Kyiv, they remain potential targets for hostile cyber operations—even at the level of local governance.
