💬 NEW! Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
 ▸  Europe

    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, surgery not required
    Discrimination
    ✔ Illegal
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (1-year deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    Unknown
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data

Public Opinion

Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition

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

Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt

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

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors

Ranked #5 out of 79 countries surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "On this list are various groups of people. Could you please mention any that you would not like to have as neighbors?"

(3.6%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (95%)

Justifiability of homosexuality

Ranked #3 out of 79 countries surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "Please tell me for each of the following statements whether you think it can always be justified, never be justified, or something in between."

(6.2%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (80.4%)

Opinion on same-sex couples as parents

Ranked #5 out of 74 countries surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "Homosexual couples are as good parents as other couples"

(12.1%) Disagree
Agree (66.2%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019)

Ranked #2 out of 34 countries surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(8%) No
Yes (92%)

History

Homosexual activity in Netherlands

?

Homosexual activity in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
Since May 5, 1945
Legal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
books.google.com/books?id=v…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/par…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1815–May 15, 1940
Legal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
books.google.com/books?id=v…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ct.gov/dcf/lib/dcf/wmv/pdf/…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1730–1811
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Uncertain about punishments for homosexuality in the Dutch Republic.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ct.gov/dcf/lib/dcf/wmv/pdf/…
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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/…
euronews.com/2013/04/01/ref…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  5 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1990–Sep 12, 2000
Civil unions
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/…
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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/th…
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
dutchcivillaw.com/civilcode…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Netherlands

?

LGBT discrimination in Netherlands is illegal.

Current status
Since 1993
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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
pinknews.co.uk/2009/06/12/l…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  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
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Netherlands

?

Same-sex adoption in Netherlands is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 12, 2000
Legal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
books.google.com/books?id=v…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Homosexuals serving openly in military in Netherlands

?

Homosexuals 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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
books.google.com/books?id=i…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Netherlands

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Netherlands is banned (1-year deferral).

Current status
Since Oct 28, 2015
Banned (1-year deferral)
12-month deferral for males who have sex with male
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
rijksoverheid.nl/regering/i…
Added by vviet93  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Oct 28, 2015–Feb 1, 2019
N/A
Deferral changed from 12 months to 4 months.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
dutchreview.com/news/dutch/…
Added by photosinger  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1977–Oct 28, 2015
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Date is when the United States banned gay male blood donors.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
rnw.nl/english/bulletin/dut…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Netherlands

?

Conversion therapy in Netherlands is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Equal age of consent in Netherlands

?

Equal age of consent in Netherlands is equal.

Current status
Since 1978
Equal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
books.google.com/books?id=v…
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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
books.google.com/books?id=v…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT Rights by Province

View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Netherlands.

    Equality Index ?
    91 / 100
    Legal Rights
    98 / 100
    Public Opinion
    84 / 100
    #34
    Interest Rank ?

    Top Contributors

    Discussions

    5 Users live in Netherlands

    Renzo
    jodi2012
    frits
    akharlamov
    Rogier

    Netherlands LGBT Organizations

    There are no organizations listed in Netherlands. Suggest one

    Share Topic

    Map of Netherlands
    LGBT Netherlands Flag
    LGBT Netherlands Flag

    Compare Netherlands

    Austria Flag

    Compare with
    Austria

    Belgium Flag

    Compare with
    Belgium

    France Flag

    Compare with
    France

    Germany Flag

    Compare with
    Germany

    Liechtenstein Flag

    Compare with
    Liechtenstein

    Luxembourg Flag

    Compare with
    Luxembourg

    Monaco Flag

    Compare with
    Monaco

    Switzerland Flag

    Compare with
    Switzerland

    Alternative names: Nederland (local name)

    LGBT Rights in Western Europe

    Austria Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Austria

    Belgium Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Belgium

    France Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    France

    Germany Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Germany

    Liechtenstein Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Liechtenstein

    Luxembourg Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Luxembourg

    Monaco Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Monaco

    Switzerland Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Switzerland