Reports of sexual crimes increased in late 2024, police say

The number of reported sexual offenses in the second half of 2024 was higher than in the same period in previous years, according to police annual figures. "It was even busier than in 2022, the peak year following revelations around shows like The Voice of Holland," said Caroline Monster, head of the National Expertise Team on Sexual Crimes.

Police registered a total of 14,802 reports of sexual offenses last year, nearly 800 more than in 2023 (14,015). While the first half of the year saw fewer reports than usual, there was a "clear increase" from July 2024 onward. Between July and December, the reporting rate was 16 percent higher than in the same period in 2023, police said.

It remains unclear whether this rise is linked to the introduction of the Sexual Crimes Act on July 1, 2024. Under the new law, coercion is no longer the central factor in determining an offense; instead, the absence of consent is key.

A person can be held criminally liable if they know or should reasonably know that the other party does not consent but proceed with the act anyway. Some behaviors that were not previously criminalized have been punishable since the law took effect.

The increase in reports may also be influenced by media coverage of the law and government awareness campaigns, Monster suggested.

In 2024, police recorded 3,288 reports of sexual assault and 3,391 reports of rape. There were also 298 reports of public sexual harassment and 131 reports of sexchatting.