Street intimidation is a serious issue. Because of it, not everyone feels free and safe in our streets, parks, and public areas.
Street harassment can take many forms. Such as whistling, hissing, catcalling, staring, making sexual gestures, asking for sex, following someone, unwanted touching, or cornering someone. Many women, girls, international people and members of the LGBTQI+ community experience harassment in public spaces. The Municipality of Wageningen considers all forms of street intimidation unacceptable.
Together, we can help stop it. Read below to learn what you can do and how to report incidents of intimidation.
Report it to the municipality. Your report helps us understand where, when, and how street harassment happens in our city.
Need police assistance? Call 0900-8844.
In case of emergency or danger, call 112 immediately.
If what you experience goes beyond intimidation and involves sexual violence, or if you want confidential advice for yourself or someone else, contact the Centre for Sexual Violence (Centrum Seksueel Geweld)(Externe link).
You can reach them 24 hours a day at 0800-0188, or chat anonymously via their website.
Bystanders play an important role in stopping street harassment. Here are tips on how to intervene safely and effectively:
Be present and observe
Stay near the situation and observe what’s happening. Your presence can make the person being harassed feel safer. Assess what’s going on and how you might help safely.
Speak up
A simple question like “Are you okay?” can make a big difference — even after the harasser has left. This shows support and signals that such behavior is not acceptable. If you feel safe, you can also address the harasser directly.
Distract
Create a distraction to break the situation safely — for example, by asking for directions or starting a casual conversation. If someone is being stared at, stand in their line of sight to break eye contact.
Separate
Help remove either the harasser or the victim from the situation. You can do this directly or with a polite excuse. Even if you don’t know the person, you can pretend to — for example, by saying, “Hey, there you are! Shall we go?”
Involve others
If you don’t feel safe intervening alone, ask a security guard, staff member, or someone in authority to step in. You can also team up with another bystander and act together.
Since 1 July 2024, sexual street harassment is punishable by law throughout the Netherlands.
The new Sexual Offences Act aims to better protect victims of sexual harassment and emphasizes that street intimidation is not normal.
Sexual street harassment includes being approached or harassed in public in an intrusive or sexually suggestive way.
Victims can now file an official police report for sexual harassment(Externe link) in public spaces.
