An African proverb may stress that it takes a village to raise a child, but if a new Dutch law is passed, four people should do the trick.
The VVD (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy) submitted a new bill to parliament on Wednesday, which would make multi-parenting possible.
If the bill is enacted, a Dutch child could have a maximum of four parents divided between a maximum of two households, reports NU.nl. Each guardian would have a say over parental decisions like medical treatments, schooling, inheritance, or taking a vacation abroad.
You read that right. Christmas is about to get crazy!
Who will this help?
As legal multi-parenthood must be intentional and granted by a judge before a child is born, this law would not apply to those who already have children in such situations.
Perhaps you’re thinking: “I had two parents, or even one, but I am doing just fine.” Are you really though? Jokes apart, there are many situations where multi-parenthood could be a blessing.
READ MORE | 7 ways raising a child in the Netherlands is different
In particular, VVD’s MP Ingrid Michon-Derkzen pictures this bill aiding rainbow parents.
Think of situations where two women have a child with a man, or two men have a child with a woman, or a transman and a cis-woman decide to involve a sperm donor in making parental decisions.
The bill would also help two families share custody after a divorce. Or if you’re completely stumped by the Dutch dating scene, you could raise a child with your three best friends!
A law long overdue?
“With this bill, we will legally enshrine what has long been a reality in practice. Legislation lagged behind current practice. With this bill, we will rectify that,” says Michon-Derzken.
The Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives) has been looking into possible legal frameworks for multi-parenthood since 2016, but no legislation has been passed, even though there are 150,000 such families in the Netherlands.
What now
As of now, citizens and institutions can share their thoughts on this bill online.
Then it will be passed on to the Council of State, the highest advisory body to the Dutch government, before being handed over to the House of Representatives.
This October, a majority of seven parties in the current House of Representatives signed a “rainbow ballot agreement” with the COC (an international LGBTI human rights organisation).
In doing so, they’ve pledged to safeguard the rights of queer people, which happens to include multi-parenthood.
The actual likelihood of the bill, however, depends on coalition negotiations that, as we know now, seem to go on forever.
What’s your take on this parenting set-up? Is it a recipe for chaos or a smarter way to raise kids? Join the conversation.
