The state of the family: listen to families.

The state of the family: listen to families.

Families experience little solidarity from politics and society. This appears from the State of the Family 2023, the annual survey on the well-being of Dutch families.

Netherlands As A ‘Family Friendly’ Country Scores 6.6

The State of the Family 2023 shows that parents feel alone. Most parents (82%) think there is too little attention for family policy in politics and a majority (60%) even sees no connection between family and politics. Many parents also say they find the polarization and lack of solidarity from society as a whole increasingly hard. Parents give the Netherlands a 4.6 for solidarity.

Lack Of Time, Money, And Attention

The initiators stress in the report that parents experience too little support. Growing individualism weighs on families and the existing pressure on parents from combining work and family becomes a heavier financial and mental burden. Meanwhile, families are asked more and more: work more, do more caregiving, take care of your children yourself as much as possible because there are shortages everywhere of staff (childcare, education) and money (care).

Kitchen Table Pact

The initiators of the State of the Family take up the challenge and launch the Kitchen Table Pact, looking for a new social norm around families. Marjet Winsemius explains: “The State of the Family 2023 calls for a new social norm around families. It is time to listen to what families need and for all of us to support that. We invite everyone to join us and sign the pact.”

The State of the Family is an initiative of Stichting Voor Werkende Ouders, the Dutch Youth Health Center, Magazine WIJ and Branch Association Social Childcare.