The Northern Dutch villages of Dongeradeel and Dantumadiel have introduced a shocking new initiative to cut spending on welfare payments; their aim is for jobless women to meet and “be kept” by rich men. The local governments make a special payment of 1,400 euros to each eligible jobless woman. This money is not for education or career services, it is to be spent exclusively for a makeover. The restyled women are then registered with a local matchmaking agency, Mens en Relatie.
Local officials look to save 400,000 euros annually, by marrying off 70 jobless women. Prostitution is famously legal here in the Netherlands, but this is an outrage! If local governments want women to prostitute themselves, they would be better off investing in these women to set up legal businesses in the sex trade. Then the women could get off of welfare and become financially independent at the same time.
The percentage of Dutch women who are financially independent is dismal, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, less than half of Dutch women earn over 10,000 Euros annually. While the outside world often views the Dutch as progressive in their social policies; take a closer look at Dutch Villages and Dutch households, and you will find the conservative, old-fashioned reality is starkly different. This bizarre policy is simply a new way to keep women where Dutch Society deems appropriate, at home and off the career track.
If “Operation Makeover” doesn’t work, maybe the local governments will sweeten the pot with a dowry?
Suzy Ogé is an American born business woman living in The Hague, The Netherlands. 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The fact is, that it is NOT legal here in the Netherlands. The local gouvernement will get in trouble if this will occur.
And on the notice that the women in The Netherlands are not financialy independent, is their own choice in many cases. Especially when there are kids in play, it is often less expensive to stay home with the kids, then to work and having to pay for childhood.
So, I agree that this initiative is out of line, but it’s not like all women are so dependent on men, or having to practice prostitution here. We’re actually pretty normal if you think of it
Thank you for your comment Maurice.
Regarding prostitution, it is up to each municipality to regulate.
With less than half of Dutch women earning over 10.000 euros annually, they are either dependent on men or social benefits. Perhaps a few have inherited a family fortune?
Of course the women choose it, but when everyone makes the same choice, is it actually a choice? For example, only 7% of women like me with 2 kids, work 35 hours or more per week.
It really is hard to imagine such a thing being championed in this day and age in the developed world.