Number of adopted children nearly reduced by half

In recent years, fewer children were adopted in the Netherlands. Over the period 2004-2008, the number of adoptions was almost reduced by half. This is chiefly caused by a reduction in the number of children adopted from China.

800 children adopted in 2008

In 1995, more than 700 children were adopted in the Netherlands. Subsequently, the number of adoptions rose to 1,370 in 2004 and then started to decline again. In 2008, nearly 800 children were adopted.

The number of adoptions is currently back at the level of the mid-1990s. Virtually all children were foreign-born. In 2008, 30 native Dutch children were adopted.

Foreign-born and native Dutch adopted children

Most adopted children are Chinese

In the mid-1990s, most children came from Colombia. Since 1998, China has taken over the number one position. In 2004, approximately 800 Chinese children were adopted and the proportion of children of Chinese descent reached a maximum of nearly 60 percent of the total number of children adopted annually. In recent years, there was a marginal increase in the proportion of children adopted from Haiti and Ethiopia.

Adopted children by country of origin

More Chinese boys adopted

Until recently, most children adopted from China were girls. The decline in children adopted from China in recent years only concerns girls. The number of adopted Chinese boys is still growing marginally. In 2008, the proportion of boys adopted from China stood at 38 percent versus about 5 percent around the turn of the century.

Adoption from China

Arie Eilbracht, Arno Sprangers and Han Nicolaas