Lessons from the Netherlands: Reflections on Low Abortion Rates and Reproductive Education

Growing up in a Dutch immigrant household, I noticed early on that something about my parents’ approach to life and family planning was very different from what I saw around me in North America. In small towns in Alberta, for example, sex education is minimal at best, birth control is barely taught, and young women are often expected to practice celibacy. The message is clear: sex is taboo, and any deviation from these norms is framed as moral failure. I came to realize how harmful this puritanical approach can be, especially to young women, by creating shame, secrecy, and risk.

Contrast this with the Dutch approach, which has its roots in the 1880s when the Netherlands largely removed religious interference from social policy. The culture is pragmatic and direct—what some people call “rude” is really just honesty. Issues are addressed openly, without moralizing, and personal responsibility is emphasized.

I remember my father telling me, when I was very young, that he had had his tubes tied after my youngest brother was born to protect the family. There was no drama, no secrecy, no sense of rebellion—just a practical solution. Similarly, my mother drilled detailed, technical knowledge about birth control into my head. Sex was not forbidden, and there was nothing to rebel against. This directness and openness created a space where I felt informed, safe, and unpressured. Dutch women, in my experience, feel no urgency to “rush” into sex because it is neither taboo nor framed as an act of rebellion against authority or religion.

I also remember sitting on my Dutch great-aunt’s couch when she suddenly began lecturing me about birth control. It was startling at first, but it’s very much in line with the Dutch method: education is direct, unapologetic, and personal responsibility is expected. Around 30% of Dutch women choose sterilization as part of family planning—again, a pragmatic choice informed by knowledge and autonomy rather than shame.

The result of this approach is striking: the Netherlands has one of the lowest abortion rates in the world. Open, honest education about sex, access to birth control, and a culture that treats reproductive health as practical rather than moral produces outcomes that are safer for women and more empowering for everyone. The Dutch don’t want their women to lose control over their bodies. And they say what appears to be rude to help young women keep their bodily autonomy.

Reflecting on this, I can see how North American puritanical approaches—especially in isolated towns where sex is not discussed and women are expected to simply be “good” or celibate—cause real harm. The Dutch model shows that respect for autonomy, clear communication, and removing shame can lead to healthier, more responsible communities.

There’s a lesson here for all of us: honesty, pragmatism, and education about reproductive health don’t just prevent harm—they create a society where young women can make informed choices, without fear, guilt, or secrecy.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)