The study tested about 4,500 pills that were confiscated last year in nightclubs, the most common place where ecstasy is used.

The researchers determined that 5 percent of the pills tested had 140 milligrams or more of the active ingredient in ecstasy, compared to 3.4 percent in 2002.

"We are seeing a trend, which first appeared at the end of 2001, of stronger pills," said Henk Maurits, a spokesman for the institute.

Furthermore, only 1 percent of drug users at Dutch nightclubs sought treatment at first-aid stations, half the number of those who sought treatment five years ago. Maurits said the decline in treatment could be attributed to education efforts about the effects of ecstasy and nightclubs providing patrons with access to free water and drug-testing facilities.

Although ecstasy use is illegal in the Netherlands, authorities usually ignore personal use of small quantities of the drug.

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