Editing Abortion in the Netherlands (section)

== History ==
[[Abortion]] was deemed illegal under the Penal Code of 1886. Convictions were all but precluded, however, by a requirement that the prosecution prove that the [[fetus]] had been alive until the abortion. The Morality Acts of 1911 closed this loophole,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Post |first=Che |last2=Brouwer |first2=Jan G. |last3=Vols |first3=Michel |date=2019-06-01 |title=Regulation of Prostitution in the Netherlands: Liberal Dream or Growing Repression? |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-018-9371-8 |journal=European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research |language=en |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=99–118 |doi=10.1007/s10610-018-9371-8 |issn=1572-9869|doi-access=free }}</ref> and strictly barred all abortions, except those performed to save the life of the pregnant woman.

Legalization reached the forefront of public debate in the Netherlands during the 1970s as many other Western European countries liberalized their laws. The [[States-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands|Staten-Generaal]], however, was unable to reach a consensus between those opposing legalization, those in favor of allowing abortion, and those favoring a compromise measure. A controversial [[abortion law]] was passed in 1981 with single swing votes: 76 for and 74 against in the House of Representatives, and 38 for and 37 against in the Senate. The law left abortion a crime, unless performed at a clinic or hospital that is issued an official abortion certificate by the Dutch government, and the woman who is asking for the abortion declares she considers it to be an emergency. The law came into effect on 1 November 1984.

Currently, there are just over 100 Dutch general hospitals certified to perform abortions, and 17 specialized abortion clinics. More than 90% of abortions take place in the specialized clinics.