Survey finds three-quarters of Dutch children exposed to violence
Three-quarters of children in the Netherlands have experienced violence, often at school, while many say they do not know how to respond.
The study by research firm Highberg, commissioned by NOS Jeugdjournaal and De Kindertelefoon, surveyed 637 children ages 9 to 13. It found that 75 percent had encountered violence as victims, witnesses, or perpetrators, including physical, verbal, and psychological forms.
Most respondents, 84 percent, said they had seen others use violence, mainly at school or on school grounds. Among children who experienced violence directly, 82 percent said it happened at school or on the schoolyard, while 23 percent reported incidents on the street.
Renée, 12, told NOS Jeugdjournaal she was bullied for years both online and in person by classmates, starting in group 5 and continuing until secondary school. Classmates waited for her after school, stood outside her home, and sent threatening messages via WhatsApp. “The worst happened 3.5 years ago, and I still suffer from it,” she said. “I often think, am I good enough? Don’t they find me strange?”
Bram, 19, described growing up with domestic violence. “You live in years of fear, afraid that you could be hit at any moment,” he said, adding that music and gaming helped him cope.
Roze, 23, said she only realized her home situation was not normal after friends pointed it out, prompting her to seek help. She now makes music about her childhood experiences.
The survey also found that 39% of kids who have seen violence don't know how to react. Although 72 percent said they generally feel safe, more than one-third said they would not know how to respond if they themselves became victims.
Roline de Wilde, the director of De Kindertelefoon, described this as the most concerning finding. “Children regularly tell us they are afraid of the consequences, of losing control, or of not being believed if they speak out,” she told NOS, stressing the need for accessible support. The organization handles an average of 25 daily calls and chats about violence, up from 22 per day in 2024. “We hear that children find it very difficult to talk about it,” De Wilde said. Staff also report that some children blame themselves or are unsure whether what they experience is normal, which can hinder their willingness to seek help and discuss their experiences with trusted adults.
