More people in the Netherlands registered as having ‘no objection’
The number of people who give consent themselves for organ donation is falling slightly, according to Statistics Netherlands figures.
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On 1 January 2026, 8.2 million Dutch adults were registered as organ donors. That figure also includes people who had not recorded a choice and were therefore registered as having ‘no objection’.
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 4.76 million adults had given consent themselves for organ donation. In 2022, there were still 4.83 million. In addition, 3.44 million people were registered as having ‘no objection’ because they had not recorded a choice.
In total, 58 per cent of adults were registered as donors in the Donor Register. A quarter of all adults had not recorded a choice of their own. For 1.49 million people, a relative decides after their death, while 4.36 million people have recorded that they do not give consent.
The shift is particularly visible among young people. Of those aged 18 to 25, 43.1 per cent were registered as having ‘no objection’. A year earlier, the figure was 41.2 per cent. Young people therefore record a choice themselves less often than older age groups.
The figures do not indicate how many organs ultimately become available. Registering as a donor is not the same as actual organ donation.
The trend does, however, show the effect the system has on people who do not register. Anyone who does not record a choice as an adult is not registered as someone without a decision, but as someone who has no objection. CBS uses separate categories for personal consent, no objection, a decision by a relative and explicit refusal.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Adults who do not record a choice are registered in the Donor Register as having ‘no objection’.
- The number of people with explicit consent fell from 4.83 million in 2022 to 4.76 million in 2026.
- Registration alone does not determine whether organ donation is ultimately medically possible.
Left
Arguments The system may unintentionally count people as donors when they have not recorded a choice because of ignorance, language problems or postponement. The emphasis should therefore be on active information provision, accessible registration and additional protection for relatives.
Values Autonomy, informed consent and equal access to healthcare.
Consequences More active choices could increase the number of registrations with a clear preference and prevent relatives from having to make a decision that the person did not record themselves.
Centre
Arguments A system based on ‘no objection’ can make donor registration simpler, but it is only defensible if everyone receives clear information and can easily change their choice. The institutional solution is better information provision and periodic evaluation of the scheme.
Values Practicality, legal certainty, transparency and trust in healthcare.
Consequences The scheme can continue to function, but it requires constant attention to whether people understand the meaning of not making a choice.
Right
Arguments An active donor system is socially useful and prevents available organs from being lost through passivity. Adults also have a personal responsibility to record their preference; those who do not cannot expect the government to circumvent the system entirely.
Values Personal responsibility, solidarity and the efficiency of healthcare.
Consequences A clear default could produce more potential donors, but trust may decline if people feel that consent is being silently assumed.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · 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 figures, percentages and trend among young people were directly confirmed by CBS. The text makes clear that registration is not the same as actual organ donation.
- confirmed On 1 January 2026, 8.2 million adults were registered as donors. — CBS published this figure on 28 October 2026. source
- confirmed 4.76 million adults had given consent themselves. — Table with provisional CBS figures as at 1 January 2026. source
- confirmed 3.44 million people were registered as having ‘no objection’. — CBS breakdown of the registrations. source
- confirmed Among 18- to 25-year-olds, 43.1 per cent were registered as having ‘no objection’. — CBS age table for 2026. source
Editor's note
The figures are provisional totals as at 1 January 2026 from the CBS report. The article makes no medical or individual treatment claim and draws no conclusion about the final number of transplants.Sources
- Meer mensen als ‘geen bezwaar tegen orgaandonatie’ in Donorregister, vooral jongeren — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
- Registraties per maand — Donorregister
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „orgaandonatie donorregister”
- RTL Nieuws — „orgaandonatie donorregister”
- NOS — „orgaandonatie donorregister”