Netherlands
Capital city — Amsterdam
Latest updates
Number of medical staff (FTE)
376.2
In May 2022, the CPT noted that healthcare staffing levels were adequate in the three prisons it visited (Dordrecht, Vught, Zwolle). Doctors were available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with consultations organised in the morning. After 5:00 p.m. and on the weekends, an on-call service was in place. Prisoners had easy access to healthcare staff. They could call them for free to set up appointments. Persons in the EBI, BPG and TA units at Vught Prison complained of the significant delays to see outside specialists.
At Aruba Correctional Institution (Korrectie Instituut Aruba – KIA), the number of medical personnel had decreased since the CPT’s previous visit in 2014. One doctor visited the prison three times per week, and two nurses were on site on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The rest of the time, the medical team was on call. No dental consultations had taken place at the prison for over a year, and prisoners had to be transferred to receive treatment.
At Centre for Detention and Correction Curaçao (SDKK), healthcare staff was lacking. Three doctors worked on rotation from Monday to Friday, for two hours per day. Six posts for nurses were vacant, and two nurses were present every day from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A dentist was on site for four hours once per week. No psychologists were present, and the psychiatrist was only on site for six hours per week to consult the general prison population.
At Point Blanche Prison in Sint Maarten, a doctor visited the facility once every two or three weeks for two hours. At least one nurse was always present.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. 50, 76, 100-101. ↩
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WHO reports that the ratio of healthcare staff is higher in Dutch prisons than for the general population. There are more nurses per incarcerated person than the recommended minimum. The number of doctors and psychiatrists is lower than the European Region average, but the overall healthcare staff level is significantly higher.
Number of prison guards (FTE)
6,323.6
In May 2022, the CPT noted a problematic staff shortage. At Aruba Correctional Centre (KIA) and Centre for Detention and Correction Curaçao (SDKK), 72 out of 142 posts were vacant, sick leave was frequent and the officers were sent on other missions. The CPT also noted that at Dodrecht Prison and Vucht Prison, in particular in the TA and BGP units at Vught, prisoners waited several hours for assistance from the staff even when they were called via intercom.1
On 30 November 2023, the Minister for Legal Protection reported a staff shortage.
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. 9, 40, 79. ↩
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In March 2024, the authorities implemented additional measures to alleviate pressure on the prison system caused by staff shortages. Three hundred and thirty cells cannot be used due to staff shortages. Additional temporary measures took immediate effect and will be reviewed in July 2024. One of the measures was to postpone the beginning of sentences for people on remand. Longer-term measures have also been implemented: - More incarcerated individuals will serve part of their sentences in limited security units (BBAs).
- Transfers from detention to forensic care will be improved.
- Electronic tagging will be enabled, in specific cases, at the end of the detention period. - The implementation of community service sentences will be improved. -
The prison service is reporting staff shortages. The number of new recruits in 2023 surpassed the number of staff members who left the prison service that year. However, around 1,000 posts remained vacant in 2023. Around 200 prison spaces could not be used in May 2024 due to staff shortages.
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Between 2020 and 2023, nearly 330 staff members were dismissed or sanctioned for corruption, smuggling drugs or phones into prison, having relationships with prisoners or leaking sensitive information.
Total official capacity of the prison facilities
10,381
The CPT notes that at Point Blanche prison in Sint Maarten, no log was kept showing the number of prisoners. No figure was available.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, p. 117. ↩
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The prison service states that it does not have sufficient funds to renovate and maintain operational prison facilities. The total capacity of its facilities is insufficient in relation to rising prison populations. A new site is under construction in Vlissingen, but the prison service says it will not be enough to address the growing capacity requirements.
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The prison service says that treatment is more often provided within prisons rather than in exterior healthcare facilities. It observes that this leads to a shortage of spaces for incarcerated individuals who must be treated in a highly secure environment.
Prisoners have the right to vote
yes
Prisoners vote by proxy (Article 6B of the Electoral Law). The proxy must be registered on the electoral register of the region involved in the election. He or she declares that he or she accepts this responsibility.
Prisoners may also request permission to leave the prison to exercise their right to vote. The service does not publish data on the exercise of this right.
It is also possible to vote by post.
In March 2017, voting booths were installed in prisons for the parliamentary elections. They were available for inmates and staff.
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All incarcerated individuals aged 18 and up can vote, provided that their voting rights have not been revoked. Dutch nationality is not a requirement to vote during European elections. Incarcerated people with the nationality of another EU member state, whose voting rights have not been revoked, can vote for a Dutch member of the European Parliament.
Some prison facilities, units or cells implement high-security measures
Article 13 of the Penitentiary Principles Act (Pbw) classifies facilities or wards into five security levels. Three of these provide for high-security measures.
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very high security (extra beveiligd) Extra Secure Units (Extra Beveiligde Inrichting - EBI) are intended for people considered to present an “extremely high” risk of escaping, continuing criminal activity or a social risk to public order or personal safety. In these facilities, prisoners spend approximately 21 hours per day in a cell. The ratio of guards to inmates is two to one. All visits and calls from inmates are monitored. Vught prison is the only facility with an EBI. The judicial complex in Vlissingen (JC Vlissingen), scheduled to open in 2030, will also have one.
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high security (uitgebreid beveiligd) Units for people identified as posing management problems (Beheersproblematische Gedetineerden - BPG) and anti-terrorist units (Terroristen Afdeling - TA) have the “high security” level.
Vught prison is the only facility with a BPG unit. It aims to provide a safe environment for people exhibiting violent or risky behavior towards themselves or others. They can spend up to 23 hours a day in their cells, and up to 18 hours a week outside their cells. Access to certain activities is possible under the strict supervision of staff. BPG prisoners are not allowed to work or study. In 2022, Vught BPG held 36 prisoners for a capacity of 48 places.1
TA units are reserved for persons accused or convicted of terrorism or considered “radicalised” by the prison service. The CPT reports that in 2022, the total capacity of the TA units was 70 places, divided between the prisons of Vught (46 places), De Schie (14 places) and Zwolle (10 places). The TA unit in Zwolle is reserved for women.2 Prisoners convicted of terrorism are not individually assessed. They are subjected to security measures that are considered excessive: invasive body searches, isolation, and placement under constant surveillance. These measures can be considered cruel, inhumane, and/or degrading treatment. However, the government has been implementing reforms to improve the treatment of these detainees since 2017. In particular, a risk-based assessment would be established.
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normal security (normal beveiligd)
People who represent a “high” risk of escaping, continuing criminal activity or a social risk to public order or personal safety may be placed in a “normal security” facility, but must be closely monitored.
Those at a “very high” risk are placed in one of ten “normal security” facilities with additional security and surveillance measures. Since 2020, these people may also be placed in intensive supervision sections (Afdeling Intensief Toezicht - AIT). These hold ten to fifteen prisoners, who do not come into contact with prisoners assigned to other sections. Four prisons currently have an AIT. Two new AITs are planned, at Sittard and Lelystad prisons.
In May 2022, the CPT noted that the highly restrictive regimes, as well as the security measures applied at the extra secure unit (EBI) and in some parts of the departments holding persons for terrorism (TA unit) and posing management problems (BNP unit) at Vught, had been reinforced and seemed excessive.3
On June 2, 2023, the Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the Penitentiary Principles Acts in order to enable additional measures against serious organised crime in detention. Significant restrictions were established regarding communication with the outside world for prisoners held in the extra secure unit (EBI) at Vught or in intensive supervision sections (AIT). The Minister for Legal Protection can ban communication options or contacts completely in the event of very serious risks to the safety of society. Visual monitoring is being established for conversations between prisoners and their solicitors. The proposal stipulates that each prisoner can communicate confidentially with a maximum of two solicitors.
Prisoners in the EBI, BPG and TA units in Vught Prison and Zwolle Prison under an ordinary regime are allowed one hour of visiting time and two to four ten-minute calls per week with friends and family. This contact is subject to constant supervision, and all conversations are recorded.
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), “Report to the Dutch Government on the visit carried out from May 10 to 25, 2022”, 2023, p. 46. ↩
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), “Report to the Dutch Government on the visit carried out from May 10 to 25, 2022”, 2023, p. 47. ↩
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), “Report to the Dutch Government on the visit carried out from May 10 to 25, 2022”, 2023, p. 7. (in English) ↩
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On 19 March, the Minister for Legal Protection clarified the requirements for placement in extra security units (EBI) or intensive supervision sections (AIT) as part of an amendment to the law on penitentiary principles to allow for additional measures against serious organised crime in prison. Prisoners are placed in an EBI or AIT if they pose a threat to society. This could include an increased risk of escape, of continuing serious criminal offences while in detention or of unauthorised contact with the outside world deemed likely to disrupt the proper functioning of society. These risks must be “extremely high” to justify placement in an EBI and “high” for placement in an AIT. The risk level is determined by taking into account several factors such as status, the role in a criminal organisation, financial resources, the length of the sentence and the behaviour of the prisoner. Placement in an EBI or AIT is determined by the Selection Advisory Board. Placement is reevaluated annually.