{
  "id": 7530470,
  "title": "Children in Dutch care system exploited on placements abroad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/children-in-dutch-care-system-exploited-on-placements-abroad",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T10:38:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DutchNews",
    "slug": "dutchnews",
    "url": "https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/09/children-in-dutch-care-system-exploited-on-placements-abroad/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An investigation by Dutch current affairs programme Nieuwsuur has uncovered potential exploitation of children in the Dutch care system while on youth placements abroad. Often sent to countries like Spain due to a lack of suitable placements in the Netherlands, these children are sometimes kept for up to three years as a temporary solution. The health and youth care inspectorate (IGJ) has flagged risks since 2009, but their findings never reached parliament. Now, the inspectorate reports that nothing has changed.\n\nChildren have allegedly been forced into unpaid work, locked in, and denied schooling. The inspectorate, with limited jurisdiction in foreign countries, cannot investigate these reports directly. Some children have been placed in non-EU countries, including Morocco, where they have no local background, making them more dependent on staff. Youth law professor Mariëlle Bruning described the situation as \"smelling of abuse.\" The IGJ also reported \"peer pressure\" and outdated punishment methods, including physical restraint and barred exits from the premises, which are prohibited in such care settings.\n\nThe inspectorate's last count of Dutch children in care abroad was in 2007, totaling 330. Youth care minister Mirjam Sterk described the situation as \"worrying.\" A motion was recently passed by parliament to minimize placements abroad as much as possible. DutchNews, which provides this report free of charge, relies on reader donations to continue its vital work. The organization thanks its readers for supporting its mission to report on issues that matter to the Dutch public.",
  "summary": "Children in the Dutch care system may be being exploited while on youth placements abroad, an investigation by current affairs...",
  "key_points": [
    "Children in Dutch care system exploited abroad.",
    "Allegations of forced unpaid work, locked in, denied schooling.",
    "Youth law professor calls situation smelling of abuse."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}