Dutch study documents harm linked to former legal gender-change rules

A Radboud University study presented on 8 October documents physical, psychological and social harm described by people who encountered the Netherlands’ former rules for changing legal gender registration. Researchers found that the conditions could force choices between obtaining matching documents and retaining control over marriage, medical treatment or fertility. [1] [2]

Under the former law, applicants had to be unmarried until 1 April 2001. Requirements for physical adaptation, insofar as medically or psychologically justified, and irreversible infertility remained until 1 July 2014. Some interviewees described undergoing major operations earlier than they wanted, or against their wishes, to obtain matching documents. Others delayed their transition or went years without updated documents because they would not meet the infertility requirement. [1] [2]

The report draws on 28 in-depth interviews conducted between June 2024 and February 2025: 24 with trans people and four with intersex people. Its authors, M. Van Bavel, M. Hülsken and L. Bosveld, say the participants are not representative of everyone affected. Although intersex people were formally outside the law’s intended scope, the researchers say some encountered the same medical requirements in practice. [2]

The authors distinguish criticism of compulsory conditions from criticism of care itself. Interviewees described gender-affirming care and legal recognition as essential, and sometimes lifesaving. [2]