The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, hate speech is banned by various provisions in the criminal code, including articles 137c (prohibiting group defamation) and 137d (prohibiting incitement to discrimination, hatred, or violence). Public controversies over the limits of provocative expression erupt every now and then, in particular when the prosecuted individual is a highly visible member of society (for example, Member of Parliament Geert Wilders). Due to the direct effect and precedence of international law in the Dutch legal system, international and regional bodies, notably the European Court of Human Rights, play a significant role in case law on hateful or discriminatory expression.