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LGBT Rights in Netherlands

    Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, surgery not required
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✔ Recognized
    Discrimination
    ✔ Illegal
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data

Public Opinion

Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition

Ranked #1 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(3%) Against
Support (89%)

Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt

Ranked #1 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(12%) Disagree
Agree (83%)

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors ?

Ranked #5 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(3.6%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (95%)

Justifiability of homosexuality ?

Ranked #3 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(6.2%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (80.4%)

Opinion on same-sex couples as parents ?

Ranked #5 out of 74 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(12.1%) Disagree
Agree (66.2%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019) ?

Ranked #2 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
(8%) No
Yes (92%)

Perceived prevalence of discrimination against transgender people (European Union) ?

Ranked #20 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(54%) Widespread
Rare (32%)

Acceptance of same-sex relationships (European Union) ?

Ranked #2 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(8%) Disagree
Agree (92%)

Support for transgender people changing legal gender (European Union) ?

Ranked #3 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(14%) No
Yes (82%)

Perceived prevalence of discrimination against sexual orientation (European Union) ?

Ranked #23 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(60%) Widespread
Rare (37%)

By The Numbers

11.4%
of gay or bisexual youth (age 12-25) have dealt with online bullying or harassment

History

Homosexual activity in Netherlands

?

Homosexual activity in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
Since May 5, 1945
Legal
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

May 15, 1940–May 5, 1945
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
During the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II homosexuality was criminalized by Paragraph 175.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1815–May 15, 1940
Legal
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Legal
1811 French invasion invalidated anti-sodomy statutes. In 1815 the Netherlands declared its independence and did not reintroduce anti-sodomy laws.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1730–1811
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Uncertain about punishments for homosexuality in the Dutch Republic.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Netherlands

?

Same-sex marriage in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
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.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1990–Sep 12, 2000
Civil unions
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Netherlands

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Netherlands is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Netherlands, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Added by equaldex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Netherlands

?

Right to change legal gender in Netherlands is legal, surgery not required.

Current status
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.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1985–Dec 18, 2013
Legal, but requires surgery
Dutch Civil Law provides that in order for a citizen to change their legal gender they must first undergo gender re-assignment surgery.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Netherlands

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Netherlands is recognized.

Current status
Since Oct 2018
Recognized
It is currently possible to request an X gender marker on legal documents, but this must be debated in court and there is no guarantee that it will be granted.

A more streamlined way to proceed is currently being studied.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Netherlands

?

LGBT discrimination in Netherlands is illegal.

Current status
Since Feb 2023
Illegal
Sexual orientation was added as a protected category from discrimination in the constitution of the Netherlands after votes in Senate and House Of Representatives were successful. Previously the Equal Rights Act of 1993 protected sexual orientation and had been interpreted to protect gender identity, expression and sex characteristics as well.
Added by SunnyDex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1993–Feb 2023
Illegal
Equal Rights Act of 1993 banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Hate crimes in the Netherlands have been rising in recent years.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Netherlands

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Netherlands is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1993
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Netherlands

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Netherlands is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1993
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Full discrimination protection.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Netherlands

?

Same-sex adoption in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 12, 2000
Legal
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Netherlands

?

Serving openly in military in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
Since 1974
Legal
The Netherlands became the first country to allow gay soldiers to serve in the military openly.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Netherlands

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 1, 2021
Legal
People who are in a monogamous same sex relationship can now donate blood without deferral.
Added by robinb  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Oct 28, 2015–Sep 1, 2021
Banned (1-year deferral)
12-month deferral for males who have sex with male
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Oct 28, 2015–Feb 1, 2019
Banned (3-month deferral)
Deferral changed from 12 months to 4 months.
Added by photosinger  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1977–Oct 28, 2015
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Date is when the United States banned gay male blood donors.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Netherlands

?

Conversion therapy in Netherlands is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in the Netherlands. It will get banned when the Cabinet is ready to make new laws. Possibly could be next country to ban it.
Sources:
trouw.nl/opinie/schiet-op-m…b18d7066/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
ecosia.org/search?q=Netherl…
Added by robinb  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Netherlands

?

Equal age of consent in Netherlands is equal.

Current status
Since 1978
Equal
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Unequal
Age of consent for homosexual relationships was 21 while for heterosexual relationships the age of consent was 16.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by Province

View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Netherlands.