http://www.minvws.nl/en/

The youth policy of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport covers services for children and young people. These services include foster care, youth participation and child abuse. The Netherlands has a decentralized youth policy; local institutions such as municipalities, schools, youth health care and social services play a major role when it comes to the supply of services for youth welfare.

One third of the people living in the Netherlands is under 25 years of age (approximately five million). As in most other industrialised countries the proportion of youth in the total population is decreasing. The majority of young people are doing well. They are healthy and, on average, their level of education is rising. Only a minority of them encounter social, behavioural or psychological problems at a certain stage while growing up.

Youth Care Act
Youth policy has been very high on the agenda in the Netherlands for quite some time. The new Youth Care Act, which came into effect in January 2005, primarily concerns the support of children in trouble. The Dutch approach is broader however. Much emphasis is placed on prevention and early detection of problems and risks.

Operation Young
Innovation in youth policy is being implemented through 'Operation Young', to be conducted from 2003 until 2006. The objectives of Operation Young are to achieve greater cohesion in youth policy, to identify and resolve sticking points, and to create better co-operation between the relevant departments.
Within Operation Young, innovation at all levels is to be implemented at local and regional level by a variety of organisations.

Visiting address:
Parnassusplein 5
2511 VX The Hague
Postal address:
PO Box 20350
2500 EJ The Hague
Phone number:
General number: +31 (0)70 340 79 11
General fax number: +31 (0)70 340 78 34
Public information office:
Open on weekdays from 9.00 - 17.00 h:
Phone number: +31 (0)70 340 78 90
Fax number: +31 (0)70 340 53 33