Netherlands

The Netherlands have regularly reported hate crime data to ODIHR. The Netherlands' Criminal Code contains no hate crime provision. The framework for hate crime investigation and prosecution is set based on guidance from the Office of the Public Prosecutor. The National Police and the National Expertise Centre on Discrimination of the Office of the Public Prosecutor are primarily responsible for hate crime data collection. Police statistics are published annually. The Central Bureau of Statistics conducts annual crime victimization surveys.

Hate crime data collection in the Netherlands
Support for hate crime victims in Netherlands
How hate crime data is collected in Netherlands

How hate crime data is collected in Netherlands

Dutch legislation does not include a definition of hate crime. The relevant data are based on "discrimination incidents". A discrimination incident is an occurrence that has been recorded in the BHV business processing system, and which includes (a combination of) words that can point to a discriminatory fact or a discriminatory (biased) aspect, or that has been flagged as discrimination (with a specific code) by police officers. Subject experts must have determined that: (1) an utterance or a behaviour can be identified that touches one of the discrimination grounds in the Criminal Code ("race", sex, religion, belief, sexual orientation and disability), also if the discrimination ground cannot be determined; or (2) this occurrence (probably) meets the elements of the articles 137c-g or 429 quarter of the Criminal Code, or the elements of a crime committed with a bias motive (codis). Marking property with swastikas is also considered discrimination and added to the list of discrimination incidents.

Collecting data about discrimination by the police has two objectives:

  1. Operational application: information at case level has immediate significance in tackling discrimination. Overviews of discrimination incidents are discussed periodically in the Regional Discrimination Consultation (RDO), where police units discuss the handling of discrimination cases with the Public Prosecution Service and the anti-discrimination agencies (ADAs).
  2. To report on the nature and level of the registered incidents and identifiable trends.

The annual "Discrimination Figures" report handles the discrimination incidents registered by police and discrimination reported to the ADAs in the Netherlands. The data are supplemented by other data gleaned from the contact point in the Netherlands for discrimination on the internet (MiND) and the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (NIHR).

In 2019, the police changed their registration of discrimination incidents, discontinuing the previously used distinction between regular acts of discrimination and those targeting employees with public duties (such as police officers). As a result, data from 2018 and 2019 cannot be compared. In addition, in 2019, the subcategories of race and religion were no longer registered, meaning that data regarding bias against Roma and Sinti and Muslims are not available for 2019.

The Public Prosecutor Office's statistics are not based on incidents, but on a number of discrimination facts, which are registered and decided upon based on one of the discrimination articles in the Criminal Code: 137c-g and 429 quarter. One discrimination fact can include several discrimination incidents. Alongside the discrimination facts, the data include 'codis': facts where a discriminatory aspect has played a role as a motive or the crime committed has a strong impact.
The Criminal Discrimination Overview report is drafted by the National Centre of Expertise on Discrimination (LECD) within the Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO). The report provides information for the Public Prosecution on the inflow and processing of specific discrimination offences in a particular year.

The figures of judges are based on the number of court cases. One court case can include several discrimination facts which, in turn, can include several discrimination incidents.

The Central Bureau of Statistics conducts annual crime victimization surveys which include discriminatory aspects behind crimes.

Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2020 2133 409 Not available
2019 2016 343 Not available
2018 3299 312 91
2017 3499 331 79
2016 4376 - -
2015 5288 Not available Not available
2014 5721 133 87
2013 3614 83 89
2012 3292 114 Not available
2011 2802 169 Not available
2010 3538 170 90
2009 2212 160 135

About 2020 Data

    Figures reported to ODIHR and presented here include hate speech and discrimination offences (or "basic forms of discrimination"), as well as hate crimes ("common offences with a discriminatory motive"). Most of the cases reported by police include physical assaults (699), threats (638) and damage to property (602). The remaining part of the police records may (194) may include instances of hate speech which do not fall under the OSCE definition of hate crime. Where multiple biases are registered in an offence, each of them is reported individually in the breakdown below. Data from prosecutors and courts refer to the "discriminatory facts" found in incidents, rather than the number of incidents.

Hate crime recorded by police

The police figures include hate speech incidents, data reported by local anti-discrimination services and online hate speech incidents, which cannot be disaggregated. Hate crimes recorded by the police can only be disaggregated by either bias motivation or type of crime (both breakdowns were reported to ODIHR) but not simultaneously by both. The disaggregation below shows the total numbers for each bias motivation.

National developments

In 2020, the Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) conducted a study on the specific needs of victims of hate crimes in the context of criminal proceedings and victim support. The study concluded, among others, that training programmes and criminal justice agents must pay attention to the appropriate treatment of hate-crime victims. Based on the study, the Ministry of Justice and Security initiated consultations with the police, Victim Support Netherlands and the ADVs to discuss the procedure the police follow when referring people who report or file criminal complaints involving hate crimes. The aim of these consultations is to identify any problems and, if necessary, implement targeted improvements.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES

In addition to incidents summarized below, this graph includes 7 hate incidents reported by Kantor Center as statistics.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
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2020-03 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-03 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-03 Violent attacks against people
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-07 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-04 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-11 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-07 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-11 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-03 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-01 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-08 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-01 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-08 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-12 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-03 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-01 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-10 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-09 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-04 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-11 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-08 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-07 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-07 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-11 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-03 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-01 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-03 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-03 Violent attacks against people
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-07 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-08 Threats
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-09 Violent attacks against people
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-09 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-11 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-11 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-12 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-12 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-04 Attacks against property
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-11 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-01 Attacks against property
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info
2020-03 Attacks against property
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info
2020-03 Attacks against property
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info
2020-06 Attacks against property
OIDAC
 Show info
2020-10 Attacks against property
OIDAC
 Show info
2020-11 Attacks against property
OIDAC
 Show info
2020-11 Violent attacks against people
OIDAC
 Show info
2020-12 Attacks against property
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-11 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
Turkish Forum Netherlands
 Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-02 Threats
Israel Information and Documentation Centre (CIDI)
 Show info
2020-09 Attacks against property
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes the Netherlands' research efforts in addressing the needs of hate crime victims. However, based on available information, it observes that the Netherlands' hate crime recording and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that the Netherlands would benefit from reviewing the existing legal framework in order to ensure that bias motivation can be effectively acknowledged and appropriate penalties imposed on the perpetrators.

ODIHR recalls that in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have agreed to a definition of hate crime shared by all OSCE participating States. It has also committed to collect reliable data and statistics on hate crimes. To that end, hate crimes need to be distinguished throughout the recording and data collection process from discrimination and hate speech crimes. Furthermore, in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have also committed to enact specific, tailored legislation to combat hate crimes, providing for effective penalties that take into account the gravity of such crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Netherlands in meeting the relevant commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as further resources and tailored legislative advice.

Our methodology