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Netherlands
Capital city — Amsterdam
Country population
i2021Incarceration rate (per 100,000 inhabit…
i31/01/2021/ Council of Europe, SPACE I – Report 2021, p. 32.Type of government
Human Development Index
0.941(10/191)
iHomicide rate (per 100,000 inhabitants)
Name of authority in charge of the pris…
Total number of prisoners
i31/01/2021/ Council of Europe, SPACE I – Report 2021, p. 32.Average length of imprisonment (in mont…
i2021/ Council of Europe, SPACE I – Report 2021, p. 124.Prison density
i31/01/2021/ Council of Europe, SPACE I – Report 2021, p. 77.Total number of prison facilities
i2021An NPM has been established
Female prisoners
i01/2021/ Council of Europe, SPACE I – Report 2021, p. 45.Incarcerated minors
i09/2018Percentage of untried prisoners
i01/2021/ Council of Europe, SPACE I – Report 2021, p. 49.Death penalty is abolished
yes, since 1952The death penalty…
Living conditions
Accommodation
The law establishes a minimum standard for living space per prisoner
yes
The minimum living space per prisoner is 10m2.
Cells are equipped with a bed, a wardrobe, a table and chair, a toilet, and a sink.
Prisoners are accommodated in single cells
in some facilities
According to a 2016 report by the CPT, prisoners are usually accommodated in single cells.1 However, prison policy implemented in 2012 (facility closures, halving of the number of inmates and staff, budgetary restrictions) has led to an increase in the number of dual-occupied cells.2
In May 2022, the CPT noted that at Aruba Correctional Institution (Korrectie Instituut Aruba – KIA), dirty cells measuring 9.5 m2 held three prisoners, with sanitary areas only partially separated from the rest of the cell, insufficient artificial lighting and no call bell.
At Point Blanche Prison in Sint Maarten cells measuring 10 m2 held no more than two prisoners, as recommended by the CPT in 2014.3
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, “[Report to the Government of the Netherlands on the visit carried out from 2 to 13 May 2016]”. (https://rm.coe.int/16806ebb7c)“, p.21. ↩
Van Ginneken E., Hanneke Palmen A., Nieuwbeerta P., Berghuis M., “The Life in Custody Study : The quality of prison life in Dutch prison regime”, Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology of Leiden University, 2018, p.5. ↩
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), “Report to the Government of the Netherlands on the periodic visit carried out from 10 to 25 May 2022”, 2023, pp. 74, 119. ↩
Prisoners sleep on
in a bed
All the prisoners are provided with bedding
Natural daylight, ventilation and artificial lighting are considered satisfactory, according to the 2016 CPT report.1
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, “Report to the Government of the Netherlands on the visit carried out from 2 to 13 May 2016”, p.21. ↩
The cells/dormitories are provided with electric lighting
yes
The cells/dormitories are equipped with heating and/or air conditioning
yes
Cells are equipped with heating.
Prisoners can smoke
in their cell
A non-smoker cannot be placed in the same cell as a smoker.
Inmates may decorate their cells with posters and photographs on a designated area of the wall.
Hygiene
Prisoners have access to water
in their cell
Showers are located in the cells/dormitories
in some facilities
This is the case at Krimpen aan den IJssel and Zuyder Bos.1
The psychiatric patient cells in Zwolle prison are equipped with a shared toilet block.
Cells in Scheveningen prison are equipped with a semi-partitioned sink and toilet. Each unit has showers that are accessible every day.2
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, “Report to the Government of the Netherlands on the visit carried out from 2 to 13 May 2016”, p.21. ↩
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, ibid, p.38. ↩
Types of sanitary facilities
toilets
Sanitary facilities are clean, adequate and accessible
yes
The prison service provides personal hygiene products free of charge
yes
The prison service provides cleaning products free of charge
yes
Beddings are refreshed
yes, once a week
The prison service is responsible for the provision of clothing and shoes (Article 44, paragraph 1 of the PBW). It ensures that the necessary funds are made available to meet this requirement.
All prisons are equipped with washing machines.
Staff organise the cleaning of collective areas within facilities. Inmates are assigned to these tasks. They may also be hired to complete other day-to-day tasks.
In May 2022, the CPT noted that the material conditions in the older buildings at Vught Prison were poor, citing the presence of rodents and poor ventilation. The material conditions at Aruba Correctional Institution (KIA) and Centre for Detention and Correction Curaçao (SDKK) were poor as well. Most of the prisoners were held in dirty, dilapidated cells infested with rodents. The cells were not equipped with call bells. The sanitary annexes in shared cells were poorly insulated, and many had black mould on the walls. At SDKK, the flushing mechanisms did not function as they should. There were not enough chairs, and prisoners had to store their belongings in bags or plastic boxes. In many cells, electric wiring was visible near the walls.1
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), “Report to the Government of the Netherlands on the periodic visit carried out from 10 to 25 May 2022”, 2023, pp. 7, 41, 74, 98. ↩
Food
Drinking water is free and available in all areas of the facilities
Number of meals per day
3
Food services are managed by
- prison service
- private companies
The French group, Sodexo, manages the food service in a number of facilities.
The prison service is required to meet nutritional standards regarding quality and quantity
Prisoners complain about the poor quality and low quantity of food served by the Sodexo group.
In May 2022, the CPT noted that most prisoners complained about the quality of the food served, saying it was tasteless and portion sizes were too small. The food was frozen, provided in black plastic boxes, and prisoners had to heat the meals themselves. This was problematic for untried prisoners, who were not able to cook. Most prisoners buy and cook their own food.
Many complaints were logged from men, women, and minors at Aruba Correctional Institution (Korrectie Instituut Aruba – KIA).
At Centre for Detention and Correction Curaçao (SDKK), authorities ordered the kitchen to be closed for health reasons. An outside catering service delivered the food, which often arrived cold.1
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), “Report to the Government of the Netherlands on the periodic visit carried out from 10 to 25 May 2022”, 2023, pp. 41, 75, 99. ↩
The prison service provides food that respects special dietary needs
Specific dietary requirements owing to health, religion, personal beliefs or for reasons relating to employment are met.
Prisoners eat their meals in
their cell
Prisoners can buy food products
Prisoners can have access to a refrigerator
yes
Refrigerators, located in cells, are available to rent.
Prisoners are allowed to cook in their cells or in a shared space
yes
Prisoners are allowed to receive food parcels
no
Part of the prisoner's food is produced by the prison
in some facilities