# Cabinet adds €5m a year for victims of violent crime

> From 2027 the cabinet will raise payments to victims of serious violent and sexual crimes and to bereaved relatives, particularly those with the most serious injuries.

Society · published 2026-11-05 12:37 · https://nlnow.nl/a/cabinet-adds-5m-a-year-for-victims-of-violent-crime/

The cabinet is setting aside €5m a year from 2027 to raise financial compensation for victims of serious violent and sexual crimes and for bereaved relatives. The money will fund higher payments from the Schadefonds Geweldsmisdrijven, the violent crimes compensation fund, particularly for victims with the most serious injuries and for bereaved relatives.

**Why it matters**

- The amounts the Schadefonds pays to victims will go up.
- The fixed amount for bereaved relatives will also go up.
- The expansion is due to take effect as soon as possible in 2027.

The exact size of the new payments will be worked out in the coming period. Within the available budget, the cabinet will consider a relatively bigger increase for the most serious injury categories.

The cabinet is also working to make it easier to recover damages in criminal proceedings. It wants victims to have clearer information on how they can claim their damages back from the offender.

State Secretary for Justice and Security Claudia van Bruggen set out the measures in a letter to the Tweede Kamer on victim policy, ahead of the committee debate on victim policy on Thursday 12 November. The investment fulfils commitments in the coalition agreement.

> No financial compensation can make up for what was done to victims and bereaved relatives. But as government and society, we do provide help and support.
> — Claudia van Bruggen, State Secretary for Justice and Security

## Background

- **Tweede Kamer**: The House of Representatives, the lower and more powerful house of the Dutch parliament. Its 150 members are elected directly; it can amend bills and holds the cabinet to account.
- **Schadefonds Geweldsmisdrijven**: The Violent Crimes Compensation Fund is a Dutch state fund that pays financial compensation to victims of serious violent and sexual crimes and to their bereaved relatives. It can step in when the damage caused by the offence is not recovered from the offender, so victims are not left without money for their losses. Changes to the fund's payment amounts are set by the government, which is why it features in cabinet budget decisions.

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