Laws in Netherlands
How the Netherlands is classified on 45 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Euthanasia legal Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are legal in the Netherlands since 2001.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Altruistic only Altruistic surrogacy is legal while commercial surrogacy is illegal in the Netherlands.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-out (presumed consent) The Netherlands uses an opt-out system where non-response to notices implies consent.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Legal Jaywalking is not an offence; pedestrians must yield but may cross anywhere.
- Drinking in Public
- Restricted areas/times Public drinking is generally legal but banned in many specific public locations.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban The Netherlands bans smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including hospitality venues.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 17.
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Banned Fur farming is banned.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned The Netherlands bans cosmetic animal testing and imports of tested products under EU law.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- Under 14 Minimum working age: 13.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal and regulated, with specific penalties for buying sex from exploited workers.
- Pornography
- Legal The Netherlands only criminalizes pornography involving minors or animals, implying adult pornography is legal.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Limited recognition The Netherlands issues X markers only via court order, not as a general legal right.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- No blasphemy law The Dutch blasphemy law was formally abolished on 1 February 2014.
- Apostasy Laws
- Legal Apostasy is legal in the Netherlands, protected by freedom of religion laws.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Flag Desecration
- Legal / protected speech There are no laws banning flag desecration, which is protected under freedom of expression.
- Conversion Therapy
- Banned Conversion therapy is banned nationwide following the passage of the bill in 2026.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive The Netherlands does not accept personal protection as a reason for firearm ownership, limiting licenses to hunting and target shooting.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Caning and other forms of corporal punishment in schools was abolished in 1920.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Legal Psilocybin possession is legal.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- Khat
- Illegal The Dutch government announced a ban on khat in 2012, classifying its active ingredients as hard drugs.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.