Officials warn of domestic violence and child abuse surge across Noord-Brabant
Reports of domestic violence and child abuse increased sharply across Noord-Brabant, with the strongest rise in West-Brabant, where Veilig Thuis received 6,859 reports last year, a 13 percent increase from the previous year. The number of advice consultations also rose significantly, by 48 percent, Omroep Brabant reports.
At the same time, reports in Oost-Brabant increased from 9,430 in 2024 to 9,844 in 2025, while Midden-Brabant recorded a stable number of more than 4,200 reports per year.
Officials say the increase likely reflects that residents and professionals are recognizing warning signs earlier and seeking help sooner, but experts warn the actual scale of domestic violence is likely much larger.
“In our region, we focus on increasing the visibility and accessibility of Veilig Thuis. We actively run campaigns, often together with the National Network Veilig Thuis,” Sophie van den Hoven of Veilig Thuis West-Brabant told Omroep Brabant. “Think of the Week Against Child Abuse or the Day Against Elder Abuse. As a result, citizens and professionals know how to find us more quickly. Situations are identified earlier. At the same time, the increase shows that the problem remains persistent.”
Janine Janssen, a lecturer in violence in dependent relationships at Avans Hogeschool in Den Bosch, said the reports represent only “the tip of the iceberg.”
“People do not like to interfere with what happens behind closed doors. Those around them often find it difficult to discuss warning signs. But it is important to have the conversation about it,” Janssen told Omroep Brabant.
In Oost-Brabant, the number of advice consultations also increased, from nearly 14,000 to more than 15,000. In the first months of 2026, Veilig Thuis received nearly 200 more reports than during the same period a year earlier.
“People reporting earlier is positive,” Arianne Gelderblom of Veilig Thuis Oost-Brabant told Omroep Brabant. “At the same time, the pressure on aid workers is increasing. Waiting lists at our organization and other support organizations are growing. Together with partners, we are investigating how we can manage the increase, for example, by expanding capacity. That is important to stop unsafe situations.”
Janssen also stressed the importance of support for perpetrators of violence. “People who have hit their partner often find that difficult to discuss. But it is important that they dare to trust support organizations. People who are afraid they will use violence again can, for example, turn to the Carrouselgroep in Den Bosch. There, they can take part in a free, voluntary training program,” she told the newspaper.
In Midden-Brabant, the number of official reports has remained stable, with more than 4,200 cases annually. Veilig Thuis said this may be linked to professionals increasingly seeking advice first on how to handle suspected domestic violence, meaning an official report is not always required. The number of advice requests rose 7.1 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
“We work with case managers,” said Iris Paulssen from Veilig Thuis Midden-Brabant. “They are easily accessible and available to join, for example, a parent meeting at school or a consultation with a general practitioner or another aid worker. By becoming involved early and providing advice, we can help prevent situations from escalating and a report from becoming necessary.”
