- 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
1730–1811
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
(Statistics Netherlands, 2018)
History
Homosexual activity in Netherlands is legal.
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 (death penalty as punishment)
Uncertain about punishments for homosexuality in the Dutch Republic.
Same-sex marriage in Netherlands is legal.
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.
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.
Right to change legal gender in Netherlands is legal, surgery not required.
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.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Netherlands is recognized.
Current status
Since Oct 2018
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.
A more streamlined way to proceed is currently being studied.
LGBT discrimination in Netherlands is illegal.
Current status
Since Feb 2023
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.
LGBT employment discrimination in Netherlands is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1993
Since Jan 1, 1993
Sexual orientation and gender identity
LGBT housing discrimination in Netherlands is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1993
Since Jan 1, 1993
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Full discrimination protection.
Same-sex adoption in Netherlands is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 12, 2000
Since Sep 12, 2000
Legal
Serving openly in military in Netherlands is legal.
Current status
Since 1974
Since 1974
Legal
The Netherlands became the first country to allow gay soldiers to serve in the military openly.
Blood donations by MSMs in Netherlands is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 1, 2021
Since Sep 1, 2021
Legal
People who are in a monogamous same sex relationship can now donate blood without deferral.
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.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Netherlands.
- Aruba (country)
- Curaçao (country)
- Sint Maarten (country)
- Bonaire (Special Municipality)
- Saba (Special Municipality)
- Sint Eustatius (Special Municipality)
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Netherlands LGBT Organizations
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Alternative names: Nederland (local name)