NETHERLANDS | Survey: it’s okay to be gay, less so to act gay

A majority of young people in the Netherlands support equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, but a significant group remains uncomfortable with visible expressions of LGBTQ+ identity in public, according to new research by the University of Amsterdam commissioned by the government.

The findings reveal a nuanced picture: while acceptance in principle is widespread, attitudes become more divided when LGBTQ+ identity is expressed openly. Advocacy group COC Nederland has raised concerns about the results and is calling on the incoming government to strengthen support for schools.

“Young people are the future”, a COC spokesperson said. “We want a future in which everyone can be visibly and safely themselves, whoever you love and whoever you are. Without visibility, there is no acceptance.”

Broad support, but clear reservations

According to the study, nearly two-thirds of young people hold broadly positive views on LGBTQ+ individuals. Some 59% believe in equality for LGBTQ+ people, while 65% agree that individuals should be free to decide whom they fall in love with.

However, a sizeable minority expresses more negative attitudes. Researchers highlight a striking pattern: many young people appear to accept LGBTQ+ identity in theory, but feel uneasy when it becomes visible or tangible. As the report suggests, some seem to believe that “you can be LGBTQ+, but you shouldn’t show it”.

This tension is reflected in specific issues. A majority (61%) opposes gender-inclusive toilets accessible to all. Meanwhile, 54% agree with the statement that a person’s gender is fixed at birth, and 41% view Purple Friday, a school event promoting acceptance and anti-bullying, negatively.

Attitudes remain stable over time

The study also notes that acceptance levels among young people have remained largely stable in recent years, with no clear upward or downward trend.

Differences in attitudes appear linked to gender, ideology and religion. Boys tend to hold more negative views than girls, while young people with more conservative social views are generally less accepting.

Religious affiliation also plays a role: religious youths are, on average, more negative about LGBTQ+ issues than their non-religious peers, with Muslim respondents expressing somewhat more negative views than Christian respondents. The study found no significant differences between young people with and without a migration background.

Calls for stronger action in education

While the study did not directly examine the causes behind resistance to LGBTQ+ visibility, earlier research by the University of Amsterdam suggested that online influences, including so-called manosphere content and figures such as Andrew Tate, may contribute to negative perceptions.

Both the researchers and COC are urging targeted measures to improve acceptance, particularly in schools. The organisation is calling for greater government support for pupils, teachers and educators, as well as structural attention to inclusion in teacher training programmes.

Although schools are legally required to provide a safe and discrimination-free environment, this is still not consistently embedded in teacher education curricula. COC argues that tailored approaches are needed to ensure all groups of young people are effectively reached, and that initiatives such as Purple Friday can be organised without concern.