The Netherlands

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

17.2 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same sex marriage in 2001 (Sandfort, 2014).It has been seen as a world leader in terms of LGBTQIA+ rights, and is a generally progressive country. However, although the Netherlands is relatively accepting of SGMs and is becoming increasingly more so, Dutch SGMs still face an increased amount of mental health challenges compared to their sexual and gender majority counterparts. This is especially true for people of color and bisexuals living in the country (Jivraj, 2011) (van Lisdonk, 2017) (Kuyper, 2011).

The Netherland's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION

Marriage for Same-Sex Couples	Yes
Civil Unions	Yes
Joint Adoption	Yes
Second Parent Adoption	Yes

PROTECTION

Employment Nondiscrimination Laws	Yes
Broad Protections	Yes
Criminalization of Violence	Yes
Ban of Conversion Therapy	No

CRIMINALIZATION

Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?	Yes
Gender	Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)	Does Not Apply

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Aggarwal, S., & Gerrets, R. (2014).Exploring a Dutch paradox: an ethnographic investigation of gay men's mental health.Culture, Health & Sexuality,16(2), 105-119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2013.841290

Jivraj, S., & De Jong, A. (2011). The Dutch homo-emancipation policy and its silencing effects on queer Muslims.Feminist Legal Studies, 19(2), 143. DOI 10.1007/s10691-011-9182-5

Kollman, K. (2017). Pioneering marriage for same-sex couples in the Netherlands. Journal of European Public Policy, 24(1), 100-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2016.1147057

Kuyper, L., & Fokkema, T. (2011). Minority stress and mental health among Dutch LGBs: examination of differences between sex and sexual orientation.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(2), 222. DOI: 10.1037/a0022688

Sandfort, T. G., de Graaf, R., ten Have, M., Ransome, Y., & Schnabel, P. (2014). Same-sex sexuality and psychiatric disorders in the second Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-2). LGBT health, 1(4), 292-301. DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2014.0031

van Lisdonk, J., & Keuzenkamp, S. (2017). Towards bi-inclusive policies: Suggestions based on research on Dutch same-sex attracted young people.Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 14(2), 206-222.DOI 10.1007/s13178-016-0241-1