South Holland allocates €5.5 million for women's safety

The province of South Holland has approved a €5.5 million fund dedicated to projects aimed at improving the sense of safety for women on streets, at bus stops, and along cycling routes. The initiative, proposed by the D66 and PRO parties, was passed by a significant majority in the Provincial States with a vote of 47-3.

Lisanne van Damme of D66 noted that young women often alter their behavior or avoid certain locations due to safety concerns. The subsidies will target municipalities where social safety is under pressure according to the National Program for Livability and Safety (NPLV), including Capelle aan den IJssel, Nissewaard, Zoetermeer, and parts of Delft, The Hague, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Schiedam, and Vlaardingen. The province also intends to fund projects outside of urban areas to ensure social safety is integrated into all public space and mobility developments.