Record calls to Dutch abuse hotline as femicide fears grow
Veilig Thuis, the national domestic violence hotline in the Netherlands, received a record 25,127 calls in June, a 31 percent increase compared to the same month last year, NOS reports. The sharp rise comes amid growing public awareness of femicide — the killing of a woman because she is a woman — and increasing concern about controlling, stalking, and violent partners or relatives.
The issue has taken on new urgency following a series of deadly attacks. In July, 39-year-old Joeweela was gunned down in Gouda by her ex-partner, Driekus K., in front of their two children. She had been living in a women’s shelter and had filed an assault complaint in June. Despite his known history of violence — including a prior conviction for attempting to kill a previous partner — K. was released from custody and later tracked her down under false pretenses. Police are now investigating whether a second suspect lured her to the murder scene. After the killing, K. committed suicide in the dunes near Scheveningen.
Later that same week, a 38-year-old woman was fatally injured by her boyfriend in Vlijmen while her 3-year-old child was in the home. Neighbors said the woman had previously experienced domestic violence in another relationship.
Reports from government oversight bodies continue to highlight systemic failures in addressing (potentially) lethal domestic violence. In 2024, the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) found that waiting times at Veilig Thuis — which is also responsible for assessing the danger in reported cases — remain excessively long. “This can have serious consequences,” the IGJ warned.
The country also faces a shortage of shelter spaces for those no longer safe in their own homes. Stalking, considered one of the clearest red flags before femicide, can currently only be investigated by police if the victim files a formal complaint — something many are too afraid to do.
Despite these challenges, prevention is not impossible, experts say. However, in practice, many victims are unaware of where to seek help, especially when afraid their reports could trigger child protective services involvement.
The feminist group Dolle Mina held a protest march in Rotterdam on Saturday to demand stronger legal recognition and action against femicide. Demonstrators called for the classification of femicide as gender-based violence under Dutch law, criminalization of psychological abuse that often precedes physical attacks, and an urgent expansion of emergency shelters for those fleeing unsafe homes.
The group also called for a dedicated national helpline using the number 116. Many people hesitate to contact Veilig Thuis out of fear they will be reported to child protection authorities if children are involved.
That fear is unfounded, a spokesperson for Veilig Thuis said. “People can contact us anonymously for advice. We find it very important to stress this. Anyone with a concern can speak to one of our experts, without obligation, via phone or chat.”
However, the organization opposes the idea of a new helpline. “That would fragment the assistance even further, and we’re trying to fix that.”
Dutch lawmakers and the cabinet have already taken some steps. A bill is in the works to criminalize psychological abuse and in response to the 2018 killing of 16-year-old Humeyra, the maximum sentence for manslaughter was increased from 15 to 25 years. Proving murder in femicide cases is often difficult, but the tougher manslaughter penalty allows for harsher punishment.
GroenLinks-PvdA member of parliament Songül Mutluer successfully secured 10 million euros through an amendment to train police and prosecutors in recognizing and responding to femicide threats. These trainings are already underway across the country.
Mutluer has also submitted a policy proposal with additional measures. One key demand: allowing police to investigate stalking without requiring a victim’s formal report, provided there is sufficient evidence. The cabinet has pledged to implement this change.
However, the government has so far declined to criminalize non-lethal strangulation as a separate offense. It argues such acts are already prosecutable under current law.
“That misses the point,” Mutluer told NOS. “Strangulation is a key predictor of potentially deadly violence. By making it a distinct crime, we can offer victims preventive protection. That’s what matters.” Her proposal will be debated in the Tweede Kamer in September.
Meanwhile, more lawmakers are urging further legal reforms. GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, and the VVD have jointly called for a Dutch version of the United Kingdom’s “Clare’s Law,” which would allow people to request information from police about a partner’s history of violence. Named after Clare Wood, who was murdered in 2009 by a partner with a violent past, the law would close a "dangerous information gap."
“Women who are victims of domestic violence usually don’t know that their partner has been violent before,” D66 MP Hanneke van der Werf previously told RTL. “While perpetrators often have a history of violence.”
VVD’s Bente Becker added: “It was clear to the police long before that he was very dangerous. She simply didn’t have access to those records.”
Mutluer endorsed the proposal: “A Dutch Clare’s Law could reveal that history before it turns fatal. That can save lives.”
Despite growing political momentum, frustration is mounting among activists. “A woman is murdered in the Netherlands every eight days,” Dolle Mina demonstrators said. “We don’t need more condolences. We need action.”
