The Hague, Netherlands— Two construction workers were killed just after 9:30 a.m. on October 18 when a six-story industrial scaffolding structure collapsed at a large residential building site in central The Hague.
The site on Laan van NOI is part of a new apartment complex. Workers were on the scaffolding pouring facade elements. Witnesses heard a loud metallic crack. Then the entire outer section peeled away and fell.
Emergency services deployed heavy rescue teams, cranes, and search dogs. Two men were found under twisted steel and planks within an hour. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were taken to Haaglanden Medical Center with fractures and concussions.
"The scaffolding was loaded with materials. It went in seconds," a site worker who was on the ground floor told police. "Dust everywhere. You couldn't see. People were shouting names."
The Dutch Labor Inspectorate and the Safety Region Haaglanden cordoned off the site. Photos from the morning show bent poles, snapped anchors, and concrete panels hanging loose. The structure had passed a visual check last week, according to the contractor's log.
Scaffolding collapses are rare but not unheard of in the Netherlands. Investigations often focus on anchor failure, overloading, and wind load. Officials said winds were light Saturday morning. Attention has turned to whether the structure was overloaded with facade panels.
Construction union FNV Bouwen called the deaths unacceptable. "We have warned about pressure to build faster with fewer checks," a union representative said. The union demanded full access to inspection records.
The contractor, a large firm based in Rotterdam, issued a statement confirming cooperation and suspending work on all its Hague projects pending review.
Work at the site remains halted. A structural engineer will assess the remaining scaffolding before any dismantling begins.
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