The men who are said to be aged between 18 to 38 are accused of opening fire on Dutch marines who were patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Aden on April 2011.

Seven of the Somalis were released and the rest brought to the Netherlands for trial on charges of piracy and attempted murder.

Rotterdam Court spokeswoman Michele Boonstra told AFP that trial hearings would take place over the next two weeks with a verdict expected where life sentences may be made if the pirates are convicted.

The first tried Somali pirates in Europe were initially charged in Rotterdam court where they were imprisoned for five years in the year 2010.