A new report on child and illegal religious marriages in the Netherlands suggests some 250 under-18s may get married every year. The report by researchers at the Verwey-Jonker Institute and Maastricht University was carried out on behalf of the social affairs ministry.
The researchers say the figure is an ‘educated guess’, based on the evidence of social workers, immigration officials and other professionals, and covers the period 2013 and 2014.
Exact figures are hard to establish because in most cases the marriages take place abroad, and in some cases the children are left behind in that country, the report states. Other ceremonies take place within closed communities, out of sight of the Dutch authorities. [DutchNews] Read more
