Netherlands

The Netherlands regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Police and prosecution statistics are published annually. A victimization survey is conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics every two years and the results are published here.

The Netherlands' Criminal Code contains no hate crime provisions, and hate crimes are addressed as "criminal offences with a discriminatory aspect". The Public Prosecution Service provides guidance on investigating and prosecuting such offences (Aanwijzing Discriminatie), including on prioritising discrimination offences.

In October 2021, the Netherlands appointed a National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism to ensure a comprehensive approach to countering discrimination and hate crime, including with the involvement of civil society.

In May 2022, a new State Commission against Discrimination and Racism (State Commission) was tasked with conducting research into discrimination and racism, including hate crimes.

The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) regularly consults civil society organizations (CSOs) on anti-discrimination policies. In particular, the MoI has entered into a formal co-operation agreement with the CSO Discriminatie.nl, which monitors discrimination in the Netherlands.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2009 hate crime report for Netherlands

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2023	3,301	97	Not available
2022	2,476	81	Not available
2021	2,417	485	Not available
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 2009 Data

Figures include hate speech and discrimination offences. There is a discrepancy between the total figure and the sum of the breakdown by bias motivations below because some offences are categorized under multiple bias motivations.

Download official data

National developments

The National Expertise Centre on Diversity of the Police operates a regional online hate crime form for victims to report such crimes to police. The website includes the possibility of anonymous reporting. The Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations also introduced a campaign to raise awareness on the importance of reporting hate crimes. A conference, held every two years, on a united effort to combat hate crimes took place with relevant actors such as the government, NGOs and the police. It was decided to improve co-ordination by following agreed definitions and publishing reports during the same period, progressing towards creating a combined report.

The local police and two NGOs (COC Leiden, an LGBT organization, and the Office for Discrimination Issues of the Hollands Midden and Haaglanden region) launched a website where victims can report incidents online.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The Turks Forum-Netherlands reported an attack on a property associated with Turks.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Centrum Informatie en Documentatie Israël (CIDI) reported 167 anti-Semitic incidents. Among these were four cases of assault, six of threats, nine cases of the vandalization of synagogues, cemeteries and monuments, and 16 other cases of vandalism and graffiti. The Stephen Roth Institute reported eight violent incidents.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The Turks Forum-Netherlands reported four incidents of the desecration of mosques, two arson attacks and one verbal threat.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.