The Netherlands has dropped again in the child rights ranking. This is due, among other things, to the decreased vaccination rate. Our country also responds "inadequately" to the deteriorating mental well-being of children caused by problematic use of social media.
This year, the Netherlands has fallen out of the top twenty in the international ranking. The RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) already expressed concerns last year about the decreased number of vaccinations among children aged nine and older.
Human trafficking and online images of child sexual abuse are also factors contributing to the decline.
According to the so-called KidsRights Index 2025, a lack of policy and decision-making on asylum and migration, child poverty, and the quality of youth care also play a role.
The Netherlands has been declining in the ranking for some time and is now in 21st place. Countries like Qatar and Lithuania are now higher on the list. Belgium is in 7th place. In 2013, when the index was established, the Netherlands was in 3rd place.
The Netherlands does not do enough for mental well-being
According to chairman Marc Dullaert, the Netherlands does not have its child rights in order. We are also "not prepared for a digital future." By this, he refers to the link between problematic use of social media and deteriorating mental health among children.
Fourteen percent of children aged ten to nineteen struggle with psychological problems. Research also shows a connection between intensive internet and social media use and the increase in suicide attempts among young people.
This calls for policy, says Dullaert. Although phones are banned in classrooms in primary and secondary schools, the response to protecting the mental health of young people is "inadequate." Dullaert therefore advocates for a requirement that companies support children and young people.
"It is a wake-up call that we can no longer ignore," says Dullaert about the findings. The report advises the government to review social media and impose measures, including mandatory age verification.
