Complaining neighbors must not outweigh kids' right to play outside: Jantje Beton

Municipalities need to stop forbidding children from playing in certain areas outside, the organization Jantje Beton has said. Mascha van Werven, the director for the child advocacy organization, thinks “that it cannot be that one complaining neighbor’s opinion holds more weight than the voice and development of hundreds of kids who just want to play.”

Jantje Beton promotes outdoor play for children. The organization reports, based on Pointer research, that 27 percent of municipalities have modified or shut down playgrounds because of noise from kids playing.

According to Jantje Beton, these are “play bans,” which are sometimes imposed after just one complaint from a neighbor. Van Werven argues that playgrounds should not routinely be limited because of this. “Children have a right to play freely,” she said.

Through a petition, Jantje Beton is urging municipalities to always consider the interests of children when handling complaints and to look for solutions that work for both sides.

Each year, the organization also presents the Jantje Beton prize to the Netherlands’ most child-friendly municipalities; the 2025 nominees are Apeldoorn, Breda, and Utrecht, recognized for their exemplary play policies.