Dutch authorities warn of rising sextortion cases involving younger victims
Dutch authorities and support organizations are raising alarm over a sharp rise in sextortion cases, warning that incidents are becoming more severe and increasingly targeting younger victims, sometimes under the age of 12, RTL reports.
According to the OM and Offlimits, perpetrators now demand more extreme acts from victims. Police reported earlier this year that complaints of online sexual abuse rose 46 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Offlimits said its helpline received 12,004 requests for assistance in 2025, up from 9,700 in 2024, noting that the figures reflect only those who actively sought help.
While precise data on severity is limited, prosecutors say the nature of the crimes is worsening. “We see that the acts demanded of victims are taking on increasingly extreme forms,” Linda van den Oever, national public prosecutor for child sexual exploitation at the national office, told RTL.
One of the most prominent cases involved 32-year-old Mark S. from Borculo, who blackmailed at least 20 girls between 2011 and 2023 using nude and bikini photos. He was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison and compulsory psychiatric treatment. Prosecutors described the case as one of the largest sextortion cases in the Netherlands.
Van den Oever said the case introduced the term “sextorture" because "there was so much coercion and threat involved, with such far-reaching, degrading acts,” she said. Victims were reportedly forced into extreme acts, including sexual activity involving minor family members and animals.
Authorities say such cases are no longer isolated. Where perpetrators previously targeted a few victims, they now often exploit many more. This shift has led prosecutors to seek harsher penalties and longer sentences.
Officials point to several factors behind the trend. Van den Oever said online “manuals” detailing how to groom children are widely available. The widespread online presence of children has also contributed. “During the coronavirus pandemic, the seed was planted,” Van den Oever said. "Suddenly, all children got a tablet to do schoolwork at home. An entire online world opened up to them, and they have mostly never left it. That is a challenge for their parents, who did not grow up being online everywhere and at all times.”
Offlimits echoed the concerns, calling the development “serious” and “shocking.” Helpline coordinator Michelle Beelen said: “On the helpline, we see that blackmailers are becoming smarter in their methods, making it harder for victims to take action. For example, they increasingly use encrypted platforms. Online developments move so quickly. Parents and caregivers often cannot keep up. At home, in our view, it is discussed too little. Fortunately, more is happening at schools. That is really necessary.”
The Nederlands Jeugdinstituut also reports growing signals of the trend. Expert Vivian den Blanken said many parents struggle with the issue. “As a young person, you are fully engaged in your sexual development, and you experiment. That also happens online and is fun and exciting for many young people. You do not want to forbid it,” she said. “At the same time, there are people who exploit the vulnerability of young people online.”
