Growing number of Dutch believe hitting wives acceptable: study

A recent study reveals a growing acceptance among Dutch citizens of physical violence against wives, according to a long-standing survey conducted by the University of Amsterdam and Tilburg University. This year, 84% of respondents indicated that wife beating could never be justified, a decrease from 87% in 2022 and 88% in 2012.

The findings, part of the World Values Survey, involved 2,500 adults. University of Amsterdam researcher Mark Boukes noted that the trend remains consistent, with the percentage of people who find it never acceptable to hit their wife falling. Younger individuals were less likely to reject domestic violence outright compared to older generations.

The researchers also discovered that financially secure individuals tend to hold more progressive views on the matter. Women reported feeling less safe than in previous surveys, with concerns intensifying over sexual harassment. The 2025 murder of 17-year-old Lisa may have contributed to this change. The manosphere, an online movement promoting hostility towards women, was also identified as an influential factor.

UvA researcher Boukes attributed the shift to "a lot of societal changes leading to more conservative opinions." The junior education minister, responsible for gender equality, expressed alarm over the findings, emphasizing the ongoing need to eliminate violence against women. The Dutch government recently appointed its first national coordinator on violence against women, and Veilig Thuis, the national advice and reporting center for domestic violence and child abuse, has extended its online chat service to 24/7 operation.