The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) is prosecuting Tata Steel IJmuiden before the District Court of Amsterdam. It suspects the company of intentionally releasing harmful substances into the air, breaching its duty of care, operating without a permit, and failing to report incidents at its coke plants. Tata Steel calls a criminal case unnecessary. A first case-management hearing is set for November 20, 2026.
Latest development Jul 8, 2026
On July 8, 2026, the Public Prosecution Service announced that it would prosecute Tata Steel IJmuiden as a legal entity. The suspected offenses include intentionally and unlawfully releasing harmful substances into the air. Prosecutors will state the exact charges at a first case-management hearing at the District Court of Amsterdam on November 20, 2026.
Why it matters
The case tests how Dutch criminal law applies to industrial air emissions that prosecutors allege were intentional and a risk to public health. It runs alongside a civil collective action by residents and administrative enforcement against the plant’s coke ovens.
Background
On May 19, 2021, the lawyer Bénédicte Ficq filed a criminal complaint against Tata Steel and its de facto managers. She acted for more than 800 residents and 10 foundations near the IJmuiden steelworks. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) opened an investigation in February 2022. The investigation service of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT-IOD) carried it out, with the environmental unit of the Hague police and the DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond. It focused on steel production and the coke-oven gas plants, and investigators made judicial site visits in November and December 2022.
On July 8, 2026, the OM announced that it would prosecute Tata Steel IJmuiden as a legal entity. It suspects the company of intentionally and unlawfully releasing substances into the air that may harm public health and of breaching its duty of care, including through insufficient maintenance. It also suspects the company of operating without a permit and of failing to report several incidents involving raw coke. A separate investigation continues into whether people in leadership roles may be personally liable.
Tata Steel calls a criminal case unnecessary and points to a limited number of incidents that it says led to technical improvements. The prosecution runs alongside administrative penalty orders against the coke plants, a regulator’s preparations to revoke their permits, and a €1.4B collective damages claim by residents. The OM will set out the exact charges at a first case-management hearing at the District Court of Amsterdam on November 20, 2026.
Timeline 8 events
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Scheduled hearingDistrict Court of Amsterdam holds the first case-management hearing
Prosecutors are to state the exact charges at this hearing.
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FilingProsecutors decide to prosecute Tata Steel IJmuiden
The OM cited intentional and unlawful air emissions, a breach of the duty of care, operating without a permit, and unreported incidents involving raw coke.
Openbaar Ministerie: OM dagvaardt Tata SteelNOS: OM vervolgt Tata Steel strafrechtelijk
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OtherRegulator prepares to revoke the coke plant permits
The North Sea Canal Area environmental agency said it was preparing to revoke the permits for both plants, in whole or in part, citing continued violations.
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OrderProsecutors collect documents at Tata Steel IJmuiden
Tata Steel said that a large part of the investigation had been finalized, while the inquiry into its de facto managers continued.
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OtherRegulator imposes penalty orders on Tata Steel’s coke plants
The two administrative orders, over emission limit exceedances that the regulator measured in 2024, carried penalties of up to €27M in total. Tata Steel paid €17.1M under the first order in 2026.
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OrderInvestigators make judicial site visits at the IJmuiden plant
A second site visit followed on December 6, 2022.
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OrderProsecutors open a criminal investigation into Tata Steel
The investigation examined whether the company introduced hazardous substances that could affect public health into the soil, air, or surface water.
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FilingResidents file a criminal complaint against Tata Steel
The complaint, filed on behalf of more than 800 people and 10 foundations, named Tata Steel and its de facto managers.