Netherlands’ Prime Minister Rob Jetten says LGBTQ+ acceptance among Dutch youth is ‘under pressure’ (EXCLUSIVE)
“Here in the Netherlands, a lot of work needs to be done,” Jetten said in his Attitude Pride Awards speech
By Callum Wells
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten has warned that acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights among young people in the Netherlands is “under huge pressure”, as the country marks 25 years since becoming the first in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
Jetten made the comments in his Attitude Pride Awards speech in Amsterdam, where he argued that the country cannot afford to become complacent about its reputation as a global pioneer on LGBTQ+ rights.
“Here in the Netherlands, a lot of work needs to be done,” Jetten said. “We see the acceptation of queer rights in the younger generation is under huge pressure.”
“We’ve also been lazy over the past few years” – Rob Jetten on the Netherlands’ LGBTQ+ progress
His warning came during WorldPride Amsterdam, which placed renewed attention on the Netherlands’ LGBTQ+ rights record as the country celebrates the anniversary of its landmark same-sex marriage legislation.
Jetten acknowledged the significance of that history, recalling the moment 25 years ago when the first five same-sex couples in the world married in Amsterdam.
But he cautioned that the Netherlands can be “a bit too proud” of its progress.
“We’ve also been lazy over the past few years,” he said.
Jetten says saying queer rights are “under huge pressure” around the world
Jetten also pointed to political parties in the Netherlands that he says are “openly attacking gay rights”, as well as discussions around legislation that could roll back trans healthcare.
The prime minister warned that the pressure facing LGBTQ+ people is not confined to the Netherlands, saying queer rights are “under huge pressure” around the world.
“We see it online, on social media,” he said. “We see it in the streets, in bars, and taxis. We see it in countries where new legislation has been introduced to actually criminalise gay rights more instead of improving them.”
Jetten calls for queer communities to work together
But Jetten remains confident that LGBTQ+ communities can push back against the growing opposition.
“We can win this fight,” he said, calling for queer communities around the world to work together, support activists in countries where LGBTQ+ people face the greatest pressure and share successful approaches.
He also outlined measures being pursued by his government in the Netherlands, including stronger protections for trans people, improved access to surrogacy for gay and lesbian couples, better police protection for LGBTQ+ people and investment in education.
“I’m very confident that in the next few years, we can show the world that gay rights are human rights, that love is love, and that we are able to win the fight against the conservative forces that are trying to hold us back,” Jetten said.
Read Rob Jetten’s full interview in issue 372 of Attitude magazine, on sale in print and digital on 27th August 2026. Pre-order Attitude magazine issue 372 in print now, or in digital on the links below on Apple News+ and the Attitude app.