# Women's safety concerns in the Netherlands

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/womens-safety-concerns-in-the-netherlands
> Updated: 2026-08-21T23:51:17.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Concerns regarding women's safety in the Netherlands have intensified following reports that 79 percent of young women aged 16 to 34 feel unsafe outdoors after sunset. A study indicated that approximately 78 percent of young women surveyed experienced some form of sexual harassment within the year. National debate was particularly heightened by the murder of 17-year-old Lisa in Duivendrecht while she was cycling home, a case involving a suspect residing in a nearby asylum seeker center.

In response to these safety issues, municipalities such as Amsterdam and Ouder-Amstel have begun implementing practical measures, including improving lighting and maintaining vegetation along vulnerable routes. 

One year after the death of Lisa, the activist group Dolle Mina organized nighttime cycling protests across several cities, including Amsterdam, Leeuwarden, and Apeldoorn. Under the movement ‘Wij eisen de nacht op’ (We demand the night), participants used bicycle bells and signs to protest gender-based insecurity. While the demonstrations were largely peaceful, minor confrontations occurred with scooter and fatbike riders in certain locations.

## Claims

- Hundreds of people participated in nighttime cycling protests across several Dutch cities. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The movement originated following the death of 17-year-old Lisa from Abcoude. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The protests were held in Amsterdam, Leeuwarden, Apeldoorn, Den Bosch, Middelburg, Zutphen, and Deventer. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- No injuries were reported during the recent cycling protests. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Unsafety and violence remain a daily reality for women, girls, and queer persons. (single source)
- Organizers called on parents to raise their sons differently and on men to correct each other. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Netherlands: Hundreds cycle at night to protest for women's safety

Hundreds of people cycled through various Dutch cities at night to protest for women's safety, continuing a movement sparked by the death of a teenager a year ago.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/netherlands-hundreds-cycle-at-night-to-protest-for-womens-safety

### 2026-08-17: Women's safety concerns persist in the Netherlands

A study shows 79% of young women in the Netherlands feel unsafe after dark, despite new municipal safety measures and lighting improvements following the high-profile murder of a teenager in Duivendrecht.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/womens-safety-concerns-persist-in-the-netherlands

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Cite as: Women's safety concerns in the Netherlands. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/womens-safety-concerns-in-the-netherlands