A new study reveals that a significant number of Dutch men admit to engaging in transnational sexual child abuse, both physically and online. The research, conducted by the Vrije Universiteit and the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), estimates that tens of thousands of Dutch men travel abroad each year to have sex with minors.

The study, initiated in 2022, surveyed nearly 10,000 men and found that 2.3% admitted to either paying for sex with someone under 18 abroad or having unpaid sex with someone under 16 while being over 21. This translates to an estimated 131,000 to 171,000 Dutch men across the entire population, with two-thirds of the abuse occurring within the past five years.

Researchers estimate that approximately 20,000 Dutch men per year travel abroad for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with minors. A significant portion of these perpetrators (75%) stated that they specifically traveled for this purpose, while the remainder engaged in the activity spontaneously. The study also found that 2.3% of the sample admitted to watching livestreams depicting minors engaged in sexual acts, with a striking 86% of these online perpetrators also admitting to committing physical acts of sexual child abuse.

The findings challenge the stereotypical image of the perpetrator. The average age of the perpetrators is 35, and the majority live with a partner, nearly half are highly educated, and only a small percentage are unemployed. Only about a third report having a sexual interest in children.

While the self-reporting methodology used in the study has limitations, researchers implemented control mechanisms to filter out deliberately incorrect answers. The study highlights the need for increased awareness and vigilance regarding the diverse range of perpetrators involved in transnational sexual child abuse.