Child sexual exploitation is a devastating problem that continues to be persistent all around the world, including in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has taken several steps to combat CSE, such as implementing legislation, developing policies and programs, and collaborating with various entities. In this article, we will explore these efforts.
But first, how has the Netherlands defined CSE?Sexual exploitation is defined as forcing someone to perform sexual services in exchange for payment, which could include money, clothing, food, etc. Unfortunately, the Netherlands does not create special legislation forCSE. Under Dutch law, sexual exploitation is seen as a form of human trafficking; this is very problematic, as some forms of CSE are connected with human trafficking, but many forms are not.
Legislative actions
The Netherlands has implemented several laws addressing CSE. The most important ones are:
The Dutch Penal Code which criminalizes the following:
The Eradication of Online Child Pornographic Material Act which went into force 1st of January 2025. This Act mandates that hosting companies promptly remove CSAM from their servers; if companies do not comply, they will face fines. This Act could make a big difference as the Netherlands is a major host of CSAM globally, in 2021, 41% of URLS hosting CSAM reported werehosted on Dutch servers.
While these laws and acts show the Netherlands’ effortsto combat and address CSE, there are significant gaps, such as the lack of legislation addressing CSE independently of human trafficking, leaving certain forms of exploitation unaddressed. Additionally, the Media Act 2008 restricts harmful content for children, fails to reflect the complexities of the modern digital environment, and does not properly protect children on the internet.
Victim support and helplines
Victims of CSE and children have access to several helplines to discuss their problems such as the Kindertelefoon, Slachtoffer hulp Nederland, and Hulplijn Seksueel Misbruik, all offering advice and referrals to specialized support if needed. Additionally, one contactthe Children’s Rights Helpdesk to receive information on what rights a child has and how to help a child. Lastly, one can also contact CoMensha’s national helpdesk for issues related to human trafficking, such as registration of victims and advice on legal matters, shelter, specialist care, assistance, and counselling.
Victims of CSE can access general support through Slachtoffer hulp, which offers judicial and psychological assistance. However, studies have shown a lack of specialized care, long waiting lists, and insufficient national oversight of service quality.
Policies and Programs
A few policies and programs have been launched in the Netherlands to address CSE, although most efforts are part of broader anti-human trafficking initiatives.
Municipal role
Municipalities play an important role in identifying and addressing all forms of human trafficking, including CSE, as most of the policies surrounding human trafficking are managed by the municipalities. However, the absence of a standardized national framework has resulted in inconsistent approaches, which has made it difficult for municipalities to cooperate with each other. Additionally, many municipalities struggle to connect youth care services with education and social support, limiting their ability to provide adequate help to children.
National and International campaign
Some of the campaigns launched in recent years are:
Despite these efforts, gaps remain as very few programs specifically target CSE.
Cooperation, monitoring, and accountability
Collaboration with international organizations and NGOs is integral to the Netherlands’ approach to combatting CSE. As CSE is a borderless crime.
International cooperation
Some of the international cooperations the Netherlands has been part of are;
Monitoring
Monitoring of victims and perpetrators within the Netherlands is severely lacking. It is believed only around 3% of underage sexual exploitation victims are visible to authorities, leaving the majority invisible and thus without support. In 2021, CoMensha registered 63 underage victims of sexual exploitation, while the estimated number is around 1300 children. This gap highlights the need for improved data collection.
Additionally, perpetrators of CSE in the Netherlands have relatively few supervision processes during their probation service and lack access to specialized resocialization programs. Coincidently, re-offending rates are much higher than the average for other crimes. Within two years, 36% of perpetrators re-offend, and 65% re-offend within seven years. Addressing this issue is essential in the fight against CSE.
NGOs
The government takes NGOs seriously and will request their help in modernizing laws and request advice when needed. However, drastic government funding cuts await NGOs; between 2026 and 2030, the government will cut one billion euros from their subsidy framework for NGOs, going from 1.4 billion euros to somewhere between €390 to €565 million. This will limit the resources of NGOs that play a critical role in combatting CSE.
The Netherlands has made efforts to combat CSE through legislation, policies and programs, and cooperation. However, significant challenges remain. Such as the lack of legislation explicitly addressing CSE, inconsistencies in municipal approaches, and inadequate support for victims hinder the Netherlands’ ability to prevent CSE and to support victims.
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Featured photo from Unsplash by Anita Monteiro
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