Dutchprotocol.nl

Documentation project on the Dutch gender protocol — its origins, scientific basis, international adoption, evaluations, and criticism.

Find out more on this site: dutchprotocol.nl.

What is Dutchprotocol.nl?

Dutchprotocol.nl is a documentation project that systematically examines the so-called 'Dutch Protocol' for gender care for young people. The Dutch Protocol is the treatment model developed at VUmc (later Amsterdam UMC) in the late 1980s and 1990s, involving puberty blockers followed by cross-sex hormones, which was regarded internationally as the gold standard for decades. The site maps out its history, scientific basis, international spread, and the criticism it currently faces.

What does it cover?

The site is divided into six sections:

• The Protocol — formal description and history from the late 1980s at VUmc;
• Scientific basis — the original publications by Cohen-Kettenis, Delemarre-van de Waal, De Vries, and colleagues; study design, sample, control groups, and methodological criticism;
• International adoption — how the protocol spread to the United Kingdom (Tavistock GIDS), Scandinavia, the United States, and other countries;
• Evaluations — systematic reviews by NICE, SBU (Sweden), Karolinska, the Cass Review (UK), and Cochrane;
• Criticism and debate — scientific criticism (Biggs, Levine, Singal) and ethical issues surrounding informed consent among minors;
• Documents — primary sources, guidelines, and official reports with direct links to PubMed, Cochrane, and other databases.

Who is it for?

For researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, journalists, and members of the public who want to understand how the Dutch model originated, how it is applied, and how it is now being assessed.

Tone and approach

The site emphasizes that international reviews have classified the evidence base as 'very low certainty' and that the protocol's central assumptions have never been tested prospectively. The primary sources enable readers to verify this for themselves. Disclaimer: the project is not affiliated with Amsterdam UMC or government agencies and does not provide medical or legal advice.

Place within the network

The historical-medical dossier. Complementing this site (see Dutch Protocol on Genderinfo.nl), the dedicated site goes deeper into the primary sources, chronology, and scientific criticism. The key moments are included on this site in the timeline, from the first publication on puberty suppression to the publication of the protocol in 2006.