Aggression against lawyers in the Netherlands

Legal professionals in the Netherlands are experiencing significant levels of aggression, intimidation, and threats. An investigation by Investico, De Groene Amsterdammer, and RTL Nieuws found that nearly 40 percent of family law attorneys had faced threats, particularly in cases involving domestic violence, coercive control, or intimate terror. These incidents included verbal abuse, online harassment, and physical intimidation such as stalking or vehicle vandalism.

Subsequent research commissioned by the Netherlands Bar Association (NOvA) indicated that 44 percent of lawyers in the country experienced some form of aggression or intimidation within a year. Verbal aggression was the most common type at 37 percent, while 71 percent of victims reported negative consequences, including decreased job satisfaction and safety concerns. The study noted that female lawyers and those in solo or small practices face higher risks.

In response to these findings, the Netherlands Bar Association is implementing measures to improve professional safety, including making resilience and safety a mandatory part of professional training and providing tools for office security and online privacy management.