The head of the Ministry of Legal Protection of the Government of the Netherlands, Frans Veerwind, today announced an immediate ban on the adoption of children from abroad for citizens of the country.
The decision came after a majority in the lower house of parliament expressed concern about the frequency of violence involving children adopted from abroad. By entrusting this to Veerwind, the parliament emphasized the importance of protecting the rights and safety of children.
Initially, the minister considered the possibility of preparing a report on the possible consequences of this decision, but later decided to comply with the will of the parliament and fully implement the ban.
Starting today, Dutch citizens will no longer be able to apply to adopt children from abroad, but applications that have already been submitted will continue to be considered. The decision is intended to phase in the ban to avoid sudden changes, Veerwind said.
During the last fifty years, according to the Netherlands Youth Institute, about 40,000 children from 80 countries have been adopted by Dutch parents. However, recent statistics show a decline in this practice, with only 70 children adopted from abroad in 2020.
Adoption of children from abroad in the Netherlands has become a subject of political debate in recent years. When researching their origins, these children often discover that their birth documents have been forged or lost, or that their adoptions were illegal.
