State commission: Racism embedded in government, anti-discrimination reforms unfulfilled

The State Commission against Discrimination and Racism said in its final report that Dutch government measures to combat discrimination and racism have been insufficient, allowing widespread discrimination to persist within public institutions and across Dutch society, including within the government itself, the body responsible for preventing it. The commission, which began work in 2022, said that the state, as legislator and guardian of the constitution, is expected to prevent discrimination, yet it continues to appear across multiple areas of governance and public services.

Chair Joyce Sylvester said discrimination and racism are “deeply embedded” in Dutch society and within government structures. According to the commission, discrimination is embedded in “laws, rules, systems, and working methods within policy and public services.”

The commission also warned that discriminatory remarks by politicians contribute to the normalization of such behavior across society. It has repeatedly emphasized that government action over the past years has been a central focus of its criticism.

The commission issued its latest final report alongside ten recommendations, which it said require “political courage, leadership, administrative and civil service commitment, and societal engagement.”

“More importantly, they require the realization that equality and equal treatment are not self-evident but require continuous attention and action,” the commission wrote.

The body has issued several reports since its establishment. In 2023, it was concluded that discrimination occurs throughout the Netherlands. In early 2025, it advised the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations to take stronger action against discrimination within government institutions. Earlier this year, it warned that discriminatory statements by politicians help normalize such behavior in wider society.

Among its new recommendations, the commission calls for the government to better reflect the diversity of Dutch society. It also proposes introducing discrimination assessments across the entire public sector, ending the profiling of citizens, and updating and strengthening anti-discrimination legislation.

The commission argues these steps are necessary for a fundamental policy shift: from a government that merely avoids discrimination to one that actively prevents it and promotes equal treatment.