The trial of a father and son from Volendam began in The Hague after they were arrested last July following a fire that destroyed a rented industrial building in Middenbeemster. The prosecution said crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy and speed had been produced there, and suspected that MDMA and amphetamine could also have been made there. Large quantities of raw materials and chemicals were found, along with parts of an installation suitable for their production.

Seven people were arrested in the case: the two men from Volendam, a 26-year-old man from Utrecht, two men from The Hague aged 33 and 56, a 59-year-old man from De Meern and a 46-year-old man from Woerden. The arrests followed a police investigation in The Hague into synthetic-drug production. The fire on June 19 required 200 firefighters and destroyed the building; the damage was expected to run into the millions. The proceedings against the two Volendam men began at 9 a.m. in The Hague.