The Dutch health minister, Sophie Hermans, informed parliament that a child under the age of 12 was euthanised in late 2025, marking the first application of a 2024 law that extended the practice to children aged one to twelve. The child’s identity, exact age and medical condition were not disclosed, but the procedure was carried out under regulations permitting euthanasia for minors with incurable diseases who are experiencing what the law defines as unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement.

According to the health ministry, the attending physician reported the case to the regional euthanasia review committee, which examined the medical file and interviewed the doctor. The committee’s opinion has been forwarded to the public prosecution service to determine whether all legal requirements were met. The framework demands parental consent, confirmation by at least one independent physician that no reasonable alternative exists to alleviate suffering, and, where the child is capable, involvement of the minor in the decision. Dutch medical associations have described the expansion as a necessary option for a small group of patients for whom palliative care is insufficient, while conservative and religious groups in the country have consistently opposed the measure, warning of ethical risks.

The Netherlands, which first legalised euthanasia in 2002, already permitted the practice for newborns under the Groningen protocol and for minors over twelve capable of discernment. The 2024 extension closed the gap for children aged one to twelve, with the government estimating it would affect five to ten cases annually. Viewed from Brussels, the Dutch approach remains among the most permissive in Europe, alongside Belgium, which removed age limits in 2014. In 2024, euthanasia accounted for 5.8% of all deaths in the Netherlands, a record 9,958 cases. The current case is likely to intensify scrutiny from international human rights observers and fuel legislative debates in countries such as the United Kingdom, where a bill on assisted dying for adults is due to return to parliament in September.

The public prosecutor’s office will now assess whether the doctor acted within the law; the review committee’s detailed findings are expected to be published shortly. The outcome will set a precedent for future applications under the 2024 law and may influence regulatory discussions in other jurisdictions where paediatric euthanasia remains legally uncharted territory.