Amsterdam youth charity may be linked to money-laundering case, prosecutors say

Amsterdam prosecutors say youth charity Stichting Be Ok may be involved in a money-laundering case, the Dutch news agency ANP reported on 14 October. The possible link has drawn attention to the Amsterdam organisation’s public funding, but prosecutors have not said whether any grant money was diverted. [3]

Six Amsterdam men were arrested on 19 May in the wider investigation, which concerns suspected laundering of at least €38 million. In a June statement, prosecutors said allegedly forged invoices were used to conceal where the money came from. That figure is an estimate for the broader case, not an amount attributed to Be Ok. [1]

De Telegraaf reported that money was laundered through false invoices addressed to Be Ok, according to ANP. Be Ok told the newspaper that, as far as it knew, it was not a suspect in the investigation and had no knowledge of criminal offences, a statement reported by Accountancy Vanmorgen. [3] [4]

According to De Telegraaf, Be Ok received nearly €2 million in subsidy from Amsterdam’s city government in 2025. Prosecutors declined to say whether they were investigating the diversion of public money through the alleged scheme. Esmah Lahlah, the city councillor responsible for youth work, said she was very shocked by the reporting and that it would be unacceptable *if* money intended for young people had failed to reach them. [3]