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Addressing women at an abortion clinic should be prohibited

That is the opinion of the court in Haarlem. According to the judges, if protesters appeal to pregnant women, it will hinder the visitors disproportionately in their freedom, especially in the undisturbed use of their rights under the Termination of Pregnancy Act.

‘Lifetime’

RTL Nieuws previously showed how anti-abortion activists work. Protesters stood right outside the door of the abortion clinic Vrelinghuis in Utrecht. As soon as our editor wanted to enter, she was approached by one of the protesters. “You give yourself for life,” they said.


Today’s lawsuit was filed by the German organization Donum Domini (Latin for ‘gift from the Lord’). He wants to demonstrate several times this year at the Bloemenhovekliniek, a clinic in Heemstede where pregnancies are terminated.

Not on the sidewalk

The municipality imposed conditions on the demonstrations in February and came up with new rules in May. The demonstration was not to be held on the curb of the clinic, but had to be moved across the street. At the back of the clinic, the demonstrators had to keep 25 meters away from the building.

Donum Domini says the purpose of the protest is to talk to clinic attendees about alternatives to abortion. But the judges think differently. Addressing women at the clinic does not count as a demonstration and is therefore not protected by the Constitution.


It is not about ‘propagating a social problem, but raising an individual matter with an individual person’. Moreover, they can still talk to visitors, but with the consent of those women, if they choose to cross the road and talk to the demonstrators about abortion.

Buffer zone and buddy

It has long been considered how women who want to have an abortion can be better protected against activists. Last year, Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge argued for buffer zones at abortion clinics. They must keep demonstrators at an appropriate distance.

And the feminist platform De Bovengrondse has set up a so-called buddy system in collaboration with the Humanist Association. Since March of this year, it is possible for people who want to have an abortion to hire a buddy who will go to the clinic.


Eva experienced the intimidation herself: ‘I felt very unsafe and threatened’

She can still remember the moment well. “I had to go to the clinic for the follow-up of my abortion,” Eva de Goeij told RTL Nieuws in an earlier interview. “When I got there, a man was standing across the street. It was a narrow street, so he was close by.”

When the man saw her, he started to curse. “He shouted that I was a murderer and that I was going to hell. I was really shocked. I was alone too, so I felt very unsafe and threatened.”

He shouted louder and shouted terrible things to her, to which De Goeij decided to go in quickly. “I just couldn’t believe it. That man was standing there shouting things like that. I thought, why are you deciding this for me? It was very intense.” You can read the story of Eva below:


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