NEETS - can the Dutch meet their needs?

Combating youth unemployment is a key priority in many European countries. However, there is little information available on the so-called NEETs - young persons not in employment, education or training. This article aims to increase the body of knowledge on this topic by supplying detailed information on the Dutch NEET group and by analysing the policies used to support them in their transitions to work and/or education. The article illustrates that it is worth combining better insight into the composition of the NEET group with an analysis of the policies that address their needs. Among other things, it demonstrates that having low NEET rates does not necessarily imply that effective policies are in place. In the Netherlands, for example, we observed a policy gap with respect to the support of young people attempting to enter the labour market for the first time. The article reveals that leaving them unattended, may result in groups of NEETs disappearing from «the radar».