The youth protection and foster care systems in the Netherlands are inadequate, according to two inspections following a thorough investigation published in a report on Thursday. Too many youth do not receive timely or sufficient protection, guidance, and help.
- Youth protection and foster care in the Netherlands are inadequate.
- Nearly half a million youths receive some form of youth care.
- Over forty thousand youths live outside their homes.
- Inspectors warn of insufficient child safety and development oversight.
- Many children wait too long for specialized help.
- Lack of transparency creates false security in youth care.
The report states there is “insufficient visibility on the development and safety of youth,” leading to “serious risks.” Inspectors believe the chance of incidents like the severe abuse of a ten-year-old girl from Vlaardingen last year is “very small,” but they do not exclude the possibility of future cases.
Nearly half a million young people in the Netherlands receive some form of youth care, with over forty thousand not living at home. Almost half of these children live in foster care, while around fourteen hundred with severe behavioral issues reside in closed youth care.
“I have a déjà vu feeling,” says Hans Faber, chief inspector at the Inspection of Justice and Security. “Six years ago, we expressed our concerns about the safety of children. The bitter conclusion is that not much has improved since then.”
— Hans Faber, Chief Inspector, Inspection of Justice and Security
There is a lack of one-on-one contact between youth care workers and children. According to Van der Putten, “Foster care workers rely on the stories of foster parents,” and some foster parents report that helpers do not even visit their homes.
Insufficient staffing in youth care leads to long waits for children placed under court supervision, who miss guidance from responsible institutions. Parents and children often encounter multiple changing helpers, which undermines trust in the system.
Many children under supervision wait too long for specialized help, which municipalities often question for financial reasons. “It is bizarre,” says Faber, that municipalities challenge the necessity of help mandated by certified institutions.
The report highlights the case of a sixteen-year-old girl, Emma, who has moved seven times in six months after being forced to leave a stable foster home at thirteen. She has received thirteen diagnoses, some of which she claims are inaccurate.
The report raises concerns about whether judges should sometimes refrain from imposing measures, as the wait for help can worsen situations. “You see that such a child continues to slide further,” states Van der Putten.
Inspectors criticize the lack of transparency from certified institutions, which mask long waiting lists by referring to “work inventories.” They emphasize the need for these organizations to clearly communicate their inability to meet their legal responsibilities.
The inspections identify “administrative impasse” as a major cause of the crisis in youth care, pointing to a lack of decisive leadership and the inability of institutions and politics to take action. “Everyone feels helpless,” says Van der Putten.
Originally reported by www.nrc.nl as “Crisis in de jeugdzorg duurt voort, zien inspecties: ‘Nog steeds onvoldoende zicht op de veiligheid en ontwikkeling van kinderen’” on 2025-09-25 02:02:00.
