Some 2,500 Dutch nationals were being held in foreign jails last year, of whom 80% had been convicted of drugs offences, according to research institute ITS. Twenty years ago, just 579 Dutch citizens were in prison abroad.

Compared with the size of the general population (16 million), the number of Dutch in foreign jails is also high, the ITS said. For example, there were 2,500 British citizens in foreign jails,1,800 French nationals and 1,500 Germans.
Most Dutch prisoners abroad are in German cells, followed by France. Suriname, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Morocco also hold several dozen Dutch nationals.
On Monday, 14 Dutch nationals were released from Moroccan jail and 12 others had their sentences reduced in an amnesty to celebrate the birth of a new princess.