Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma is urging the Dutch government to introduce national legislation to prevent anti-abortion protests directly outside clinics, following a recent ruling by the highest administrative court that allowed activists to demonstrate at the doors of a Utrecht clinic.

The court decision involved the Christian group Jezus Leeft, which was permitted to protest outside the clinic with slogans such as “abortion is murder.” Utrecht had previously tried to enforce a buffer zone to protect clinic visitors, but the court overruled the city’s efforts.

Mayor Dijksma emphasized the need for legal tools from The Hague. “People can demonstrate within sight and hearing, but at a distance that ensures women have free access to the clinic,” she stated. She explained that the court had only considered protest rights, while the situation now involves clashing fundamental rights. “It’s no longer about demonstrating—it’s about preventing someone from exercising her own fundamental rights,” Dijksma added.

Rising Tension Outside Clinics

Small but increasingly assertive anti-abortion groups have targeted clinics for years. Cases remain pending at the Council of State regarding protests in Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Groningen.

The Netherlands currently has no national law restricting protests near abortion clinics, unlike other countries such as the United Kingdom, which introduced a mandatory 150-meter buffer zone last year, and Spain, which enforces “safe zones” around clinics.

Women Report Intimidation

Women seeking care often describe feeling intimidated. Hannah Hentenaar, 19, who had an abortion this summer, recounted her experience: “They just know so well what to say that at one point I thought: isn’t it strange what I’m doing?” Protesters handed her tiny baby dolls to evoke guilt, she explained.

Inside clinics, doctors see the effects firsthand. Anneke van Soest, an abortion physician in Rotterdam, noted: “Women already have to justify themselves to their family and friends, and then they are confronted by strangers, often in a not-mild way.” She added that the “help” offered by activists is unnecessary. Women are always given the chance to reconsider and can reschedule if they are unsure about their decision.

Activists Defend Their Actions

Activists maintain that their presence provides support. Marieke Heuvelman of Kies Leven stated that she vigilantly stands outside a Rotterdam clinic weekly, offering leaflets and conversations to those interested. Her flyer reads: “You are not alone. We are happy to help you with concrete support. You are stronger than you think, simply because this baby is worth it. Abortion is not an interruption of pregnancy. It is the killing of an unborn child.”

While activists argue their actions are supportive, clinic staff and local authorities emphasize that protests often create unnecessary stress and intimidation for women seeking legal healthcare.

Source: NL Times