Help and refuge
Domestic violence occurs more frequently than you might think. And it can affect anyone: women and men, young and old. In most cases it involves (ex) partners and the victims are often women. But men can also be victims. Children can become victims because they witness violence between their parents.
Domestic violence means any form of violence within a relationship. It can be physical violence, but also psychological or sexual violence. For example: hitting, humiliating, threatening, verbal abuse, or forcing somebody to have sex.
Domestic violence does not stop by itself
It can be difficult to talk about domestic violence. You feel ashamed or you think you are to blame. You are afraid to look for help because you think the violence will eventually stop or because you don't want to end the relationship. These feelings are very understandable. However, it is still better to find help and talk to somebody about it. At the end of the day, domestic violence is not normal and does not stop automatically, but usually only gets worse.Contact
Stichting Wende offers help to the victims of domestic violence and perpetrators who want to stop inflicting the violence. You will find details about the help we offer, and the people we help, on this website. You can also e-mail us or call us on 070 392 57 74. This telephone number can be used on Mondays to Fridays between 09.00 and 17.00 hours. In urgent cases, you can also call this number outside of these times and in the weekend.If you have difficulty speaking Dutch, then let us know straight away. We will then try to make an appointment with an interpreter (free of charge).