Netherlands faces shortage of nearly 800 women’s shelter beds
The Netherlands is nearly 800 women’s shelter beds short, leaving victims of domestic violence without immediate protection. The country has 1,024 shelter spots, but under the Istanbul Convention, it should have 1,800, NU.nl reports.
Valente, the national women’s shelter association, says 40 percent of municipalities maintain waiting lists. Activist group Dolle Mina called the situation “unacceptable,” noting that women’s safety “is left on a waiting list.”
Mijke Caminada, Valente researcher, told NU.nl, “We sometimes have to ask women if they can flee a day later. Your circumstances are very serious if you are willing to leave everything behind and escape. You don’t want to ask them to hold on, but often there is no alternative.”
Maaike Krielaart of Veilig Thuis described the struggle to find beds: “Staff sometimes spend hours calling around to find a shelter spot for someone, often without success.”
Nelleke Westerveld, project leader at Movisie, said prolonged domestic violence worsens both victim and perpetrator outcomes. “Violence often escalates, and patterns become more entrenched. Victims become increasingly detached from their own needs and boundaries.”
Overcrowding is not caused by increased violence; the number of female victims has been stable for a decade. Bottlenecks in shelter intake and outflow have reportedly worsened the crisis, forcing some women into hotels or vacation rentals. Westerveld called these alternatives “temporary fixes, not structural solutions,” as professional support is limited.
From 2026, the government will provide 12 million euros annually for more shelter beds, enough for about 150 new spots. Caminada said, “This is only the beginning. Women’s shelters must be fully accessible again. For that, many more permanent beds are needed, and we are far from that goal.”
Even with new beds, the nearly 800-bed shortfall will persist. Preventive measures and broader use of restraining orders could reduce pressure on shelters, Westerveld told NU.nl. The government will reportedly work with municipalities and aid groups to decide how to use the 12 million euros.
