Netherlands to Criminalise Certain Conversion Practices from 2027: What the Law Means

Last updated: 16 October 2026 | Reading time: 8 minutes

The Netherlands will introduce a new criminal offence targeting certain conversion practices from 1 January 2027. The law is designed to protect people from systematic or otherwise intrusive attempts to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity in circumstances specified by the legislation. It covers qualifying conduct involving minors, certain conduct against adults where there is an abuse of power, and particular ways of offering conversion services.

The legislation, formally known as the Wet strafbaarstelling conversiehandelingen, was published in the Dutch Bulletin of Acts and Decrees on 30 September 2026. Its commencement decree confirms that it will enter into force on 1 January 2027.

For LGBTQ+ people, families, healthcare professionals and international residents, the distinction between prohibited conversion practices and other conversations about sexuality or gender identity is particularly important. Here is what the new Dutch law says, who it protects and what it does not automatically make illegal.

1. Key Facts About the New Dutch Law

• Effective date: 1 January 2027.
• Official name: Wet strafbaarstelling conversiehandelingen.
• What it targets: Certain systematic or otherwise intrusive acts intended to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Who receives specific protection: Minors and adults in circumstances involving abuse of a position of power, subject to the statutory conditions.
• Services: Publicly offering certain conversion services and directly offering them to minors are separately addressed by the law.
• Important limitation: This is not a blanket ban on every discussion of sexuality, religion, gender identity or transition.

The Dutch Senate approved the legislative proposal in June 2026. The enacted law was subsequently published as Staatsblad 2026, 294. The commencement date is set out separately in Staatsblad 2026, 295.

2. What Are Conversion Practices?

Conversion practices are activities intended to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They are sometimes described as conversion therapy, although the Dutch law uses the broader term conversiehandelingen, or conversion practices.

The conduct may involve psychological pressure, repeated attempts to reshape someone’s identity, or other intrusive practices. It is not limited to licensed therapists or formal clinical settings.

However, the law does not criminalise every conversation about sexuality or gender identity. The offence of carrying out conversion practices has specific legal requirements: the conduct must take place in the exercise of a public office, profession or business, or within an organisation, and must have a systematic or otherwise intrusive character with the required intention to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The legislative explanations state that the nature, duration, frequency and intensity of the conduct are relevant when assessing whether it crosses the legal threshold. A single conversation, expression of disapproval or piece of advice is not automatically a criminal offence under this provision.

3. What Will Become a Criminal Offence from 1 January 2027?

The new provision is inserted into the Dutch Criminal Code as Article 285ba. It distinguishes between several types of conduct.

Systematic or intrusive practices involving minors

A person may commit an offence by carrying out systematic or otherwise intrusive acts, in the exercise of a public office, profession or business or within an organisation, with the intention of changing or suppressing the sexual orientation or gender identity of someone under 18.

The statutory wording focuses on the purpose and nature of the conduct, together with the other legal requirements. It does not require that the attempted change or suppression succeed.

Practices involving adults where there is an abuse of power

The law also covers certain conduct against adults when the person carrying it out abuses a position of power arising from the actual circumstances.

The parliamentary explanations discuss situations in which a young adult depends on a closed community for accommodation, social relationships and basic security, while a person in a position of authority repeatedly pressures them to undergo intrusive sessions intended to suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity. Whether a particular situation meets the legal requirements depends on the evidence and circumstances.

Offering conversion services

The legislation creates separate offences relating to publicly offering services that consist of the specified conversion practices, and directly offering such services to a person under 18.

This means that the law addresses not only the carrying out of certain practices but also particular ways of offering services intended to provide them.

4. Who Is Protected by the Law?

The legislation focuses on protecting people from attempts to change or suppress sexual orientation or gender identity in circumstances specified by the law.

• Children and teenagers: The law covers qualifying systematic or otherwise intrusive practices carried out in a professional, business or organisational context with the required intention.
• Adults facing an abuse of power: Certain practices against adults are covered when the perpetrator abuses a position of power arising from the actual circumstances.
• People targeted by conversion service offers: The law separately addresses public offers of conversion services and direct offers to minors.
• LGBTQ+ people across sexual orientations and gender identities: The statutory wording expressly refers to sexual orientation and gender identity.

The precise legal conditions matter. Someone’s LGBTQ+ identity alone does not establish that a criminal offence has occurred, and an allegation must be assessed against the statutory requirements.

5. What Are the Possible Penalties?

The law provides different maximum penalties depending on the type of offence.

The law also provides for criminal fines. In qualifying cases, a person who commits one of the specified offences in the course of their profession may be disqualified from practising that profession.

The two-year maximum applies to the offences of carrying out conversion practices described in Article 285ba(1) and (3), where the offender makes a habit of the offence or two or more people act together. It should not be read as automatically applying to the separate service-offering offences.

These are statutory maximum penalties, not automatic sentences. Whether an offence has occurred and what penalty is appropriate depend on the facts, the evidence and the applicable criminal procedure.

6. What Is Not Automatically Prohibited?

The law has specific limits. It does not make every expression of a religious belief or every conversation about sexual orientation or gender identity a criminal offence.

Religious beliefs and pastoral conversations

The parliamentary explanations state that merely expressing disapproval or giving advice is not enough, by itself, to establish the offence. The required intention and the systematic or intrusive nature of the conduct are relevant.

At the same time, a conversation being religious or pastoral does not automatically place it beyond the law. Pastoral or other support conversations can fall within the provision if they meet the relevant statutory requirements, including the required intention and the systematic or otherwise intrusive nature of the conduct, in the applicable professional or organisational context.

Private family conversations

The parliamentary explanations state that conversations between parents and children in the private family sphere fall outside the scope of this specific offence. Even intrusive conversion-oriented conversations between a parent and child do not, by themselves, make the parent liable under this provision simply because the conversations occur within the family relationship.

However, this does not mean that an organisation or service provider can never face criminal liability in a related situation. Depending on the facts, an organisation may be liable for its own conduct, including qualifying conversion practices or offering services covered by the law. The application of the law depends on the statutory conditions and the evidence.

Conversations about social or medical transition

The law expressly states that an intention to encourage restraint, caution or reflection concerning a person’s social or medical transition in relation to gender identity is not, by itself, treated as an intention to change or suppress that person’s gender identity for this offence.

This provision is specific. It does not mean that every action described as advice about transition is automatically exempt, regardless of its purpose, methods or the other circumstances.

7. Is There an Exception for Healthcare Professionals?

Yes, but the statutory wording is conditional. Under Article 285ba(7), a doctor or another healthcare provider is not punishable when acting in their professional capacity in accordance with the standards of care applicable to them.

This is not a blanket exemption for every activity carried out by someone working in healthcare. The professional role and the applicable standards of care remain important.

For patients, this distinction means that appropriate healthcare, informed discussion and professional assessment should not automatically be equated with conversion practices. The circumstances and relevant professional standards matter.

8. What Does the Law Mean for LGBTQ+ People in the Netherlands?

The new law creates a specific criminal-law response to certain attempts to change or suppress sexual orientation or gender identity. For LGBTQ+ people, it is an important legal development, but its practical effect will depend on how the statutory requirements are applied in individual cases.

For parents, educators, faith communities and healthcare professionals, understanding the distinction between ordinary conversation and qualifying conversion practices is essential. The legislation does not remove the need to consider freedom of belief, professional responsibilities and individual circumstances within the limits set by the law.

The law also does not mean that every form of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is automatically covered by this new offence. Harassment, threats, violence and other conduct may raise different legal questions under separate provisions.

Readers can also explore The Dutch Daily’s related guide, LGBTQ+ Netherlands 2026: WorldPride, Safety and How to Report Hate, for broader information about LGBTQ+ life and support in the Netherlands.

9. Where to Seek Information or Help

If you are concerned that you or someone you know is being subjected to conversion practices, consider documenting what happened and seeking confidential support. You do not need to wait for the new law to take effect to ask for information or support.

• COC Nederland: An LGBTQ+ organisation providing information, community support and advocacy. Visit coc.nl.
• Transgender Netwerk: Information and support related to transgender and gender-diverse people in the Netherlands. Visit transgendernetwerk.nl.
• Legal advice: For questions about a particular situation, consult a qualified Dutch legal professional or a legal advice service.
• Immediate danger: Contact the emergency services if someone is in immediate danger.

Keep relevant messages, dates and other records if you feel safe doing so. A support organisation can help you consider possible next steps, but the correct legal route depends on the circumstances.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Netherlands conversion practices law take effect?

The law takes effect on 1 January 2027, as confirmed by the commencement decree published in the Dutch Bulletin of Acts and Decrees on 30 September 2026.

Does the new law ban all conversion therapy?

It criminalises specified conversion practices when the statutory elements are met. The law distinguishes between practices involving minors, certain practices against adults involving abuse of power, and particular offers of conversion services. It is more precise to describe it as a law criminalising certain conversion practices rather than a blanket ban on every conversation or activity related to sexuality and gender identity.

Does the law protect transgender people?

Yes. The statutory wording expressly covers attempts to change or suppress gender identity, as well as sexual orientation. The law also contains a specific provision concerning restraint, caution or reflection about social or medical transition.

Can a religious conversation become a criminal offence?

A religious or pastoral setting does not automatically determine whether the law applies. A conversation or expression of disapproval is not automatically criminal. The relevant questions include the purpose and the systematic or intrusive nature of the conduct, as well as the other statutory requirements.

Can parents be prosecuted for discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with their children?

Ordinary conversations between parents and children in the private family sphere fall outside the scope of this specific offence. However, a related situation involving an organisation or service provider must be assessed on its own facts and against the applicable legal requirements.

Are doctors and other healthcare professionals exempt?

The law states that a doctor or other healthcare provider is not punishable when acting in their profession in accordance with the standards of care applicable to them. This is a conditional exception, not a blanket exemption for all conduct by healthcare professionals.

Does the law mean conversion practices are automatically legal before 1 January 2027?

No. The new specific criminal offence takes effect on that date, but this does not mean that conduct before then is necessarily lawful under every other applicable rule. The legal position depends on the circumstances and any other relevant legislation.

Where can I read the law itself?

The enacted law is published in Staatsblad 2026, 294. The date on which it enters into force is specified in Staatsblad 2026, 295.

Official Sources and Further Reading

This article is based on the published Dutch legislation and parliamentary explanations available as of 16 October 2026. It provides general information, not individual legal advice. Readers should consult the official documents or a qualified professional when interpreting the law in a particular case.

• Official legislation — Wet strafbaarstelling conversiehandelingen (Staatsblad 2026, 294)
• Official commencement decree — Effective date of 1 January 2027 (Staatsblad 2026, 295)
• Dutch Senate — Explanatory notes on the scope of conversion practices legislation
• Dutch Senate — Further explanations of the statutory definition and healthcare exception
• Government of the Netherlands — Answers to parliamentary questions about the proposal
• COC Nederland
• Transgender Netwerk

The Dutch Daily covers Dutch news, laws and everyday life for international residents. This article reflects the published legal text available at the update date; legal interpretation in an individual case should be confirmed with a qualified professional.