(CNN) -- Five suspected pirates went on trial Tuesday in the Netherlands in what is thought to be the first trial in Europe of pirate suspects. 

The trial of the five Somali men opened in Rotterdam District Court and is expected to last five days, said Wim de Bruin, a spokesman for Netherlands National Prosecutor's Office. 

The five were captured by the Dutch Navy in January 2009 in the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia, after a cargo ship with Dutch Antilles flag was attacked, de Bruin said. 

"The ship of the pirates was destroyed by the Danish Navy, and the pirates were captured and handed to the Dutch authority. They're being tried for sea robbery, and if convicted the maximum sentence will be 9 to 12 years," he said. 

The men are Ahmed Yusuf Farah, 25, Jama Mohamed Samatar, 45, Abdirisaq Abdulahi Hirsi, 33, Sayid Ali Garaar, 39, and Osman Musse Farah, 32, he said. 

A different suspected Somali pirate is awaiting sentencing in the United States, where he pleaded guilty earlier this month to hijacking and kidnapping. 

Prosecutors say Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse led an attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel, the Maersk Alabama, off the coast of Africa last year. 

He pleaded guilty May 19 in a New York federal court to felony counts of hijacking maritime vessels, kidnapping and hostage taking, for his role in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean on April 8, 2009. 

Muse faces a maximum sentence of almost 34 years behind bars when he is sentenced October 19. 
When did he enter a guilty plea?
What were the charges?
On what date were the crimes?
What ship?
Where?
When is sentencing?
How much time is he facing?
Who demolished the ship?
When?
Where?
What type of boat was it?
How many were arrested?
Where did criminal proceedings occur?
How many times have piracy suspects been judged in Europe?
Who is accused of pirating the American boat?
Who were the Danish attackers?
Which was the youngest?
Who is the oldest?
Who is the spokesperson?
How long are the proceedings supposed to last?
May 19
He pleaded guilty May 19
felony counts of hijacking maritime vessels, kidnapping and hostage taking
felony counts of hijacking maritime vessels, kidnapping and hostage taking
April 8, 2009
April 8, 2009
the Maersk Alabama
the Maersk Alabama
the Indian Ocean
the Indian Ocean
October 19
 he is sentenced October 19
a maximum sentence of almost 34 years behind bars
a maximum sentence of almost 34 years behind bars
the Danish Navy
the Danish Navy
January 2009
The five were captured by the Dutch Navy in January 2009
the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia
the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia
a cargo ship with Dutch Antilles flag was attacked
a cargo ship with Dutch Antilles flag was attacked
five
The trial of the five Somali men
Rotterdam District Court
The trial of the five Somali men opened in Rotterdam District Court
Once
 Five suspected pirates went on trial Tuesday in the Netherlands in what is thought to be the first trial in Europe of pirate suspects
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse led an attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel
Ahmed Yusuf Farah, 25, Jama Mohamed Samatar, 45, Abdirisaq Abdulahi Hirsi, 33, Sayid Ali Garaar, 39, and Osman Musse Farah, 32
Ahmed Yusuf Farah, 25, Jama Mohamed Samatar, 45, Abdirisaq Abdulahi Hirsi, 33, Sayid Ali Garaar, 39, and Osman Musse Farah, 32
Ahmed Yusuf Farah
Ahmed Yusuf Farah, 25, Jama Mohamed Samatar, 45, Abdirisaq Abdulahi Hirsi, 33, Sayid Ali Garaar, 39, and Osman Musse Farah, 32,
Jama Mohamed Samatar
Ahmed Yusuf Farah, 25, Jama Mohamed Samatar, 45, Abdirisaq Abdulahi Hirsi, 33, Sayid Ali Garaar, 39, and Osman Musse Farah, 32,
Wim de Bruin
Wim de Bruin, a spokesman for Netherlands National Prosecutor's Office
five days
The trial of the five Somali men opened in Rotterdam District Court and is expected to last five days