Study finds less opposition to partner violence
Most people in the Netherlands still reject violence against a female partner, but that majority is smaller than in previous surveys.
More than 84 per cent of people in the Netherlands believe it is never justified for a man to hit his wife. That share was higher in previous surveys, according to new research by the University of Amsterdam and Tilburg University.
In 2012, 88 per cent of respondents said that hitting a woman could never be justified. In 2022, the figure was 87 per cent. In the new survey, the share is just over 84 per cent, Hart van Nederland reports, based on the research.
The researchers stress that the question concerns the extent to which respondents consider an act justified. That is not the same as asking whether someone uses violence themselves, approves of violence or whether domestic violence occurs in practice.
The finding sits alongside a broader conclusion from the research: support for women's emancipation remains strong. At the same time, there are signs that some traditional views on relationships, income and the distribution of power are disappearing less quickly than others.
Age and respondents' perceived financial situation are also associated with answers to questions about equality and violence. Such associations describe differences between groups, but do not prove that age, income or religiosity is the cause of a particular view.
The wording of the survey is therefore important for its interpretation. Someone who believes that violence may be justified in a highly exceptional situation does not fall into the never category in this question. That does not automatically mean that person regards intimate partner violence as normal or desirable.
The researchers do regard the shift as cause for concern, because social rejection of violence is part of prevention. At the same time, this survey cannot be used to infer that violence against women has actually increased to the same extent. Data on reported and hidden violence, perpetration and recurrence would be needed for that.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- More than 84 per cent of respondents rejected hitting a woman in all circumstances.
- That percentage is lower than in previous surveys.
- The survey measures attitudes, not actual incidents of violence.
Left
Arguments A decline in outright rejection of intimate partner violence must be taken seriously. According to this approach, prevention requires education, economic independence, good support services and breaking down gender norms.
Values Equality, protection of victims and social responsibility.
Consequences Without a structural approach, traditional power relations may continue to shape society according to this view, even when formal rights are equal.
Centre
Arguments The finding deserves attention, but must be interpreted carefully. Policy should focus simultaneously on setting standards, providing support and improving data on actual violence.
Values Evidence-based policy, proportionality and reliable measurements.
Consequences Hasty conclusions can harden the debate; doing nothing can mean missing signals from society.
Right
Arguments The government must tackle violence firmly, but should be cautious about broad explanations concerning groups or culture. The emphasis should be on individual responsibility and consistent enforcement.
Values Equality before the law, personal responsibility and public safety.
Consequences Targeted investigation and sanctions may be more effective according to this view than general campaigns that do not directly change behaviour.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The percentages and the universities involved have been confirmed. The initial news framing has been toned down because the survey measures attitudes and does not directly demonstrate that violence has increased in practice.
- confirmed More than 84 per cent believe it is never justified for a man to hit his wife. — Reported by Hart van Nederland based on the research. source
- confirmed The share was 88 per cent in 2012 and 87 per cent in 2022. — The historical comparison appears in reporting on the research. source
- confirmed The survey does not prove that actual violence has increased to the same extent. — Methodological qualification: an attitude survey measures views, not incidents. source
- confirmed Broad support for women's emancipation remains in the Netherlands. — This is a main conclusion of the University of Amsterdam research as described in the press release. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: More people have an understanding of women being hit.Now: The share of people who believe violence against a female partner is never justified is smaller than in previous surveys. (The survey measures responses on a scale of justification and does not prove that respondents approve of intimate partner violence in general.)
Editor's note
The trend figures come from research by the University of Amsterdam and Tilburg University. The text distinguishes between attitudes in a survey and actual incidents of violence; no conclusive conclusion is available about the causes of the shift.Sources
- Nederlanders positief over vrouwenemancipatie, maar ook reden tot zorg — Universiteit van Amsterdam
- Begrip voor slaan vrouw neemt toe, blijkt uit onderzoek — Hart van Nederland
- Sociaal veilig leven - Emancipatiemonitor 2024 — CBS
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „partnergeweld vrouwenemancipatie”
- NU.nl — „partnergeweld vrouwenemancipatie”
- De Telegraaf — „partnergeweld vrouwenemancipatie”