Dutch Youth's LGBT Acceptance Drops Sharply as Online Disinformation Spreads

Acceptance of homosexuality among Dutch youth has sharply declined, with new research from Utrecht University and the Trimbos Institute showing that 11- to 16-year-olds increasingly view it as "disgusting." The percentage of boys with a positive attitude dropped from 40% in 2021 to 22% in 2025, while girls fell from 78% to 51%. The decline is visible across all school levels and backgrounds, returning acceptance to roughly 2009 levels. Discrimination researcher Hanneke Felten attributes this to online disinformation and conspiracy theories about LGBT people, spread through coordinated actions by nationalist, conservative, and religious organizations. Schools report increased resistance during events like Purple Friday, with posters torn down and flags thrown in toilets. State Secretary Judith Tielen called the decline "intense" and announced extra support for schools. Teachers report students repeating terms like "gender doctrine" and "letter soup" from radical influencers. However, schools actively combating homophobia see less bullying overall, and theater makers note that personal conversations can still shift attitudes.