The Netherlands is short of almost eight hundred places in women’s shelter. This means that women cannot be taken directly from an unsafe environment. The Dolle Mina’s take to the streets in several cities on Friday to draw attention to it.
There are 1,024 reception places for victims of domestic violence throughout the Netherlands, according to the monitor of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and the Valente trade association. According to the Treaty of Istanbul, which contains agreements about the approach to violence against women, there must be at least one place per ten thousand inhabitants. That would amount to eighteen hundred places in the Netherlands.
The reception locations are permanently overcrowded, says Valente. In 40 percent of all municipalities there is a waiting list, which means that women in an unsafe situation cannot always be helped immediately. The Dolle Mina’s find it “unacceptable” that the safety of women “is on a waiting list”.
Mijke Caminada is also worried. She is a researcher at Valente and has participated in the monitor. “We sometimes have to ask if women can also flee a day later,” she tells NU.nl. “Your circumstances are very serious if you are willing to leave everything behind and flee. You do not want to ask the person to keep up, but often it is no different.”
Maaike Krielaart from Veilig Thuis recognizes this image. Employees are sometimes calling around for hours to find a shelter for someone, she says. And often without success.
The longer the domestic violence lasts, the greater the consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator, project leader Nelleke Westerveld of Kennis Institute Movisie explains. “Violence often takes on an increasingly serious form and the patterns are becoming more stubborn. As a victim you are increasingly alienating from your own needs and boundaries.”
Reception overcrowded, but not because of more violence
The total number of female victims of violence has been quite stable for ten years. Violence against women even fell in the long term. Nevertheless, reception locations are increasingly fuller, it was previously apparent from a tour of NU.nl. This has to do with, among other things, problems that make the flow and the outflow more syrupy. You can read more about this in this article.
Women go back to unsafe situation
It is important to break the pattern of violence as quickly as possible. Out -of -home placement is usually a good way to do that. Due to the lack of reception places, it is therefore more the rule in acute situations than the exception that women move to hotel rooms or holiday homes. It is a plaster, but certainly not a structural or ideal solution, says Westerveld.
A reception location offers more than just a bed. A team of professionals supports and guides women in processing their traumas and is looking for ways to rebuild their lives. At alternative reception locations, this help is only available to a limited extent. “But leaving house and fireplace in a crisis is fierce, so that help is much needed.”
In addition, a woman who has to go to the daycare is in survival mode, says Caminada. And in a hotel room a woman cannot relax. “You have so much worries and then you will also be placed in a small room where you cannot just go out for safety reasons. How do you still function normally on your work or do you take good care of your children, for example?”
She therefore sees that women sometimes choose to return to the unsafe home situation. That is an attractive choice, because they know what they have left behind. Westerveld: “They may be safe in such a hotel room, but at the same time they can also feel lost if they don’t get the right help.”
150 extra reception spots
From 2026, 12 million euros will be available every year for more reception places, the outgoing cabinet announced on Prinsjesdag. According to Caminada, that is enough for 150 extra reception places. “But that’s just the beginning,” she emphasizes. “The women’s shelter must become available and accessible again. For this, structurally more places are needed and we are not nearly there yet.”
The target of nearly eight hundred new reception places, in accordance with the Istanbul Convention, will not be achieved in the coming years. The new places will, however, provide lighting. “From there we can see how the waiting lists are doing and how often there is to be moved. Perhaps it appears that more than eighteen hundred shelters are needed.”
But it could also be less. For example, if major steps are taken in the field of prevention. Or if investments are made in ways to intervene outside the daycare. According to Westerveld, for example, in certain cases a house ban can be used better and more often, also preventively. “That is possible if a situation threatens to get out of hand. It hardly happens now, while we know it is important to be there quickly and early.”
The question is what exactly will happen with the structural 12 million euros. The government is discussing this together with aid organizations and municipalities. “The money is paid to municipalities and they can choose what they do with it,” says Caminada. “The future must show when we have enough reception places.”
The Netherlands is Short nearly Eight Hundred Places in Women’s Shelters. This Means That Women Cannot Be Taken Out Of An Unsafe Environment Immediately. The Dolle Mina’s Will Take To The Streets in Several Cities on Friday to Draw Attention to this.
Across The Netherlands, There Are 1,024 Shelter Places for Victims of Domestic Violence, Accordination to the Monitor of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and Industry Association Valente. Accordance to the Istanbul Convention, which contains on Tackling Violence Against Women, there must be at least one place per Tenhousand inhabitants. This would Amount to Eighteneen Hundred Places in the Netherlands.
The Shelters Are Permanently Overcrowded, Accordination to Valente. In 40 percent of all communities, there is a waiting list, which is what women in an unsafe situation canot always be helped immediately. The Dolle Mina’s Find It “Unacceptable” That the Safety of Women is “On A Waiting List”.
Mijke Caminada is also group. She is a researcher at valente and co-authored the monitor. “We Sometimes Have To Ask Women Whether They Can Escape A Day Later,” She Tells Nu.nl. “Your circumstances are very serious if you are willing to leave everything behind and flee. You don’t want to ask that person to hold on for a while, but of there is no other way.”
Maaike Krielaart or Veilig Thuis Recognizes This Picture. Employees Sometimes Spend Hours Calling around to Find a Shelter for Someone, She Says. And often without Success.
The Longer The Domestic Violence Lasts, The Greater The Consequences for Both The Victim and The Perpetrator, Explains Project Leader Nelleke Westerveld or Knowledge Institute Movisie. “Violence of Takes an increasingly serious form and the patterns Become More Persistent. As a Victim, you Become Increasingly Alienated from Your Own Needs and Boundaries.”
Shelters Are Overcrowded, But Not Due to More Violence
The Total Number of Female Victims of Violence Has Been Fairly Stable for ten years. In The Long Term, Violence Against Women Has just decreased. Yet Shelters Are Becoming Increasingly Full, As was PreviOutly Shown in a Survey by NU.nl. This is partly due to problems that make the flow and outflow more diffress. You can read more about this in this article.
Women Return to Unsafe Sitations
It is important to break the pattern of violence as quickly as possible. Out-of-home placement is usual a good way to do this. Due to the Lack of Shelter Places, It is Therefore More The Rule Than The Exception in Acute Situations That Women Move to Hotel Rooms Or Holiday Homes. It is a plaster, but certainly not a structural or iDEAL Solution, Says Westerveld.
A shelter sacrifices more than just a bed. A Team of Professionals Supports and Guides Women in Processing Their Traumas and Searches for Ways to Rebuild Their Lives. AT Alternative Shelters, This Help is only available to a limited extent. “But Leaving Home and Hearth in a crisis is intense, so that help is essential.”
In Addition, a woman who has to go to a shelter is in Survival Mode, Says Caminada. And in a hotel room, a woman cannot relax. “You already have so many worries and then you are placed in a small room where you are not allowed to leave for safety reasons. How do you function normally at work, for example, or take good care of your child?”
She sees that women sometimes choose to return to the unsafe home situation for this reason. That is an attractive choice, because they know what they have left Behind. Westerveld: “They May be safe in Such A Hotel Room, But At The Same Time May Feel Lost If they do not Receive the Right Help.”
150 extra Shelter Places
From 2026, 12 Million Euros Will Be Available Every Year for More Shelter Places, The Outgoing Cabinet Announced on Budget Day. Accordance to caminada, that is enough for 150 extra shelter places. “But that’s just the beginning,” She Emphasizes. “Women’s shelters must Become available and accessible again. More places are needed structurally for this and we are not there yet.”
The Target of Almost Eight Hundred New Shelter Places, In Accordance with the Istanbul Convention, Will in Any Case Not Be Achieved in the Coming Years. However, The New Places Will Provide Relief. “From there, we can see how the waiting lists are doing and how of people have to move. It May Turn Out That More Than Eighteen Hundred Shelter Places are Needed.”
But there could also be feer. For example, if major steps are tasks in the field of prevention. Or if investments are made in Ways to intervene outside or shelter. Accordance to Westerveld, a Rest training Order can be used better and more in Certain Cases, also prevention. “That is Possible if a sitation threatens to get out of hand. It hardly happens now, while we know that it is important to be there quickly and early.”
It is Still Questionable What Exactly Will Happen With The Structural 12 Million Euros. The Government will discuss this with aid organizations and muticipalities. “The Money Will Be Distributed to Municipalities And They Can Chose What they Do With It,” Says Caminada. “The Future Will Show When we have Enough Shelter Places.”