The Dutch government is launching a new investigation into allegations of abuse within the country’s pornography industry, following a formal request by members of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament.

The decision comes after media reports suggested widespread criminal activity, including human trafficking and sexual exploitation, within the adult entertainment sector in The Netherlands.

Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel announced during a parliamentary debate that the Research and Data Centre (WODC) has been instructed to conduct the investigation. This will be the second probe into the industry in as many years. A 2023 inquiry into the same issues reportedly found no specific signs of abuse, but Minister van Weel acknowledged that investigative journalists have since uncovered concerning practices that warrant deeper scrutiny.

During the debate, Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) MP Harmen Krul raised alarm over numerous reports of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, particularly involving women from Eastern Europe. These women, he explained, are often lured to the Netherlands with promises of legitimate work, only to have their passports confiscated and be handed over to criminals upon arrival. According to Krul, there are an estimated 45,000 online advertisements seeking to recruit sex workers, predominantly targeting vulnerable women abroad.

The Tweede Kamer members, representing a range of political parties, have voiced their collective concern over the need to protect potential victims and bring perpetrators to justice. Members of the coalition, including the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), emphasized the importance of encouraging witnesses and those aware of human trafficking operations to report such crimes to the police.

VVD MP Rosemarijn Dral criticized the slow progress in implementing mandatory reporting for suspected trafficking cases, a measure that had been previously suggested by Parliament. “It’s taking far too long,” she said, calling for immediate action to enforce the reporting requirement.

While Minister van Weel expressed support for such an obligation, he urged caution, citing concerns over the potential erosion of trust between victims and care providers. He indicated that the government would revisit the issue and explore integrating it into the upcoming reforms of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which are scheduled to be implemented in the coming years.

Another significant legislative change under discussion is the proposal to raise the legal age for prostitution from 18 to 21. This measure has received widespread support, with no significant opposition voiced in the parliamentary debate. The minister confirmed that he would detail his plans to address human trafficking and sexual exploitation in an official letter before the upcoming justice budget discussions.

This renewed focus on the Dutch adult industry comes in the wake of widespread media attention on the exploitation of sex workers and concerns about human trafficking. Despite the earlier investigation finding no concrete evidence of abuse, recent revelations have fueled calls for more stringent oversight and legal reforms aimed at curbing illegal activities in the sector.