5 months Ago
The apology follows the release of a report called "Legacy of Injustice" by the Committee on Benefits and Out-of-Home Placements, which found that the Dutch tax authority's relentless efforts to recoup benefits had left families living in poverty, mired in debt and experiencing high stress — with children in those families suffering the most. The government seeks to acknowledge their suffering directly," state secretaries wrote.
Thousands of kids taken away due to state mistake
The scandal led to numerous family breakdowns. Many children were removed from their homes unnecessarily due to poverty. Failures in youth welfare and child protection services meant authorities frequently failed to make the connection between financial strain and family dysfunction, resulting in avoidable out-of-home placements.
At least 2,090 children of the victims saw their torn out of their families, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The Ministry of Justice and Security said even more: 3,058 children. Overall, CBS estimates that the victimized parents had more than 68,000 children, while the Ministry of Finance claims it was over 100,000.
Palmen, who is now a state secretary but who at the time was a civil servant, during the height of the scandal, had already 2017 sounded the alarm about the affair and demanded compensation. Her pleas went unheeded, she warned at the time. "Those young people, the bam-bam kids of those days still suffer the consequences every day," she added, promising that the government would now give priority to their needs.
Support centers and youth-oriented programs are in the works
The government will directly involve the children and youth impacted in providing appropriate support. Plans call for a national support centre to be set up and new programs to be launched that are designed for these taken away from home.
"We see and hear you and we admit that huge suffering has been caused by the government," Palmen said to the young people in attendance. The format of the apology and the forms of assistance will be developed in conjunction with partner organizations and the victims themselves, the secretaries of state said.
But for thousands of family members who are still waiting to be fully compensated, the apology will be too late — a sign that the crisis that so wracked Dutch society continues for many.
