- Homosexuality⚢✔ Legal
- Marriage⚭✔ Legal
- Changing Gender✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Adoption✔ Legal
- Discrimination✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Military✔ Legal
- Donating Blood✖ Banned (1-year deferral)
- Age of Consent✔ Equal
- Conversion TherapyAmbiguous
History
Current status
(since May 5, 1945)
(since May 5, 1945)
Legal
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
During the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II homosexuality was criminalized by Paragraph 175.
1730–1811
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Uncertain about punishments for homosexuality in the Dutch Republic.
Current status
(since Apr 1, 2001)
(since Apr 1, 2001)
Legal
The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage. The Lower Chamber voted 109 in favor on the same-sex marriage, with 33 against on September 12, 2000. On December 19, the Higher Chamber votes 'yes' on the bill. Queen Beatrix ratified the law on December 21st and it went into effect on April 1, 2001.
Current status
(since Dec 18, 2013)
(since Dec 18, 2013)
Legal, surgery not required
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of not requiring surgery to change one's gender on official documents.
Current status
(since Sep 12, 2000)
(since Sep 12, 2000)
Legal
Current status
(since Jan 1, 1993)
(since Jan 1, 1993)
Sexual orientation and gender identity
No
Current status
(since Jan 1, 1993)
(since Jan 1, 1993)
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Full discrimination protection.
Current status
(since 1974)
(since 1974)
Legal
The Netherlands became the first country to allow gay soldiers to serve in the military openly.
Current status
(since Feb 14, 2014)
(since Feb 14, 2014)
Ambiguous
Regulated. Not criminalized.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Netherlands.
- Zeeland
- Zuid-Holland
- Bonaire (Special Municipality)
- Saba (Special Municipality)
- Sint Eustatius (Special Municipality)