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Human trafficking and labor exploitation in the Netherlands

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-17 09:35 UTC → 2026-10-20 19:57 UTC · added removed

Reports indicate a rise in human trafficking and labor exploitation within the Netherlands. According to the National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence against Children, total trafficking reports reached 952 in 2025, an increase from 944 in 2024. Labor exploitation specifically saw a 13 percent increase, with 401 reported cases in 2025. While significant surges were previously noted in hospitality, agriculture, and horticulture, recent data shows growth Growth is most pronounced in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors, where reports nearly tripled. In tripled, and the hospitality sector, where reports doubled, with victims doubled. Victims in hospitality frequently originating originate from Bangladesh, Turkey, and Syria. In Syria, while those in agricultural sectors, victims sectors are often Polish, Romanian, and Spanish nationals. Despite these trends, a significant gap remains in criminal prosecution. While the Labor Inspection received 308 signals of human trafficking and launched 57 investigations, only ten cases reached the Public Prosecution Service, Service and only nine suspects stood trial. National Rapporteur Conny Rijken noted that perpetrators remain difficult to track and that current enforcement often relies on financial penalties that do not provide victims with full legal protection. In response to these issues, municipal inspections during During the ‘Week Against Human Trafficking’ have Trafficking’, municipal inspections uncovered illegal housing practices. Authorities in several municipalities, including Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Papendrecht, Alblasserdam, and Sliedrecht, identified numerous ‘ghost residents’ and unregistered residents’. In Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, authorities found 191 individuals living in registered at ten addresses where they do not live, alongside substandard conditions. Local initiatives, conditions such as the ‘Sluit Mensenhandel Uit’ campaign in Vlaardingen, have been launched to train enforcement officers mold and housing employees blocked escape routes. Similar unregistered residency was identified in recognizing signs Papendrecht, Alblasserdam, and Sliedrecht. In Den Haag and Alphen aan den Rijn, unannounced inspections by the Hague Economic Intervention Team and the Netherlands Labour Authority identified violations of forced criminal activity minimum wage, working hours, and sexual exploitation. foreign employment laws. Investigations in Alphen aan den Rijn also revealed indications of prohibited child labor.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-20 19:57 UTC Human trafficking and labor exploitation in the Netherlands
  2. 2026-10-17 09:35 UTC Human trafficking and labor exploitation in the Netherlands
  3. 2026-10-16 13:16 UTC Human trafficking and labor exploitation in the Netherlands

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