Cross-border victims in the Netherlands

This chapter presents the situation of cross-border victims in the Netherlands, a country that is a major tourist destination, as well as an important travel, migration, and economic hub (with Schiphol Airport and the Rotterdam Harbour). The Netherlands also serves as a destination for large numbers of labour and refugee immigrants. The author observes that while the legal framework of victims’ rights is well established, the legal and policy framework relevant to cross-border victims in the Netherlands remains a developing field. The chapter includes a summary of the current state of victim rights in the Netherlands, with particular attention paid to the rights available to cross-border victims (foreign residents who were victimized in the Netherlands and Dutch residents victimized abroad). It also discusses victim support services and the access cross-border victims have to these services in practice, drawing heavily on the author's interviews with four practitioners and policymakers working in the field of criminal justice or victim support. The chapter ends with examples of good practices in the field of confiscation and residence rights, as well as some closing remarks on the desired development of victim support and protection.